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readwithtabi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nvjtgll13's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
lisaluvsliterature's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is my first book by this author, but I’ve wanted to read her for a while. And this was the perfect one to start with too I think! Now, I’ve only been to Disneyworld, never Disneyland, so I didn’t realize it was not Cinderella’s castle at both parks. Sleeping Beauty was one of my favorites, maybe even more so than Cinderella? So it was fun to have this story where our characters ended up being dropped into the world of that fairy tale.
Stella and Reece first get a weird glimpse in the castle of the scene at the beginning of the movie when Maleficent shows up and curses Princess Aurora. But then they get back to their own time and can only assume it was some kind of weird immersive experience with actors and such. The leave, but then when Reece can’t find his phone and they go back to find it, they get lost into that same corridor only this time they end up in the fairy tale a week ahead of all the big happenings when the prince meets Aurora.
They realize they have to make sure the story goes the way it is supposed to, because now Prince Philip, or Phil as he is going by so that people don’t “know” he is the prince, has met her. Reece convinces him to keep it a secret, which he also wants to do. Over the week Stella stays in the tree home with the three fairy godmothers, or who Rose/Aurora thinks are her aunts. And Reece stays with the prince. They meet up every day, keeping it especially secret from the fairies, and the two get to know each other. Reece and Stella barely knew each other, but had issues with each other, and of course they also get to know each other.
Stella’s pessimistic view of romance, caused by her boyfriend recently breaking up with her before prom, is something she must fight to help keep this story on track. Reece knows the story by heart because his younger sister loves the movie, but he’s got his own family issues. In the end it’s a sweet romance, rom-com, fairy tale. My first book by this author, and now I know I need to read more!
Stella and Reece first get a weird glimpse in the castle of the scene at the beginning of the movie when Maleficent shows up and curses Princess Aurora. But then they get back to their own time and can only assume it was some kind of weird immersive experience with actors and such. The leave, but then when Reece can’t find his phone and they go back to find it, they get lost into that same corridor only this time they end up in the fairy tale a week ahead of all the big happenings when the prince meets Aurora.
They realize they have to make sure the story goes the way it is supposed to, because now Prince Philip, or Phil as he is going by so that people don’t “know” he is the prince, has met her. Reece convinces him to keep it a secret, which he also wants to do. Over the week Stella stays in the tree home with the three fairy godmothers, or who Rose/Aurora thinks are her aunts. And Reece stays with the prince. They meet up every day, keeping it especially secret from the fairies, and the two get to know each other. Reece and Stella barely knew each other, but had issues with each other, and of course they also get to know each other.
Stella’s pessimistic view of romance, caused by her boyfriend recently breaking up with her before prom, is something she must fight to help keep this story on track. Reece knows the story by heart because his younger sister loves the movie, but he’s got his own family issues. In the end it’s a sweet romance, rom-com, fairy tale. My first book by this author, and now I know I need to read more!
pagingmrsvarnum's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is absolutely a delight for grownup Disneyland and fairytale fans! Stella is a super organized and driven junior in high school who gets dumped right before prom and is feeling more than a little jaded by the whole “Happily Ever After” motif. However, she and her best friend have been planning to start their prom night at Disneyland since they were in elementary school, so she gets dressed up and heads out to the Most Magical Place on Earth with a group of friends and a new guy in school named Reece. Stella and Reece don’t get along but unwittingly stumble into a wormhole from Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland Park to the actual Sleeping Beauty movie.
I enjoyed this book, but I think it will appeal to a very specific audience. The book is marketed as Young Adult, but honestly I think it’s a better fit for 6th-8th graders. It’s pretty wholesome and juvenile and a bit on the cheesy side - but isn’t that part of what we love about Disney?! A big part of my enjoyment had to do with all the Disneyland easter eggs sprinkled throughout the contemporary chapters, and my knowledge of the movie added to the fairytale plotline. I don’t know that someone who wasn’t a middle grade lit and Disney parks\/movie fan would enjoy this book as much.
That being said, if you fall into that reader category, I definitely recommend this book! It’s a fun ride and had me laughing out loud more than once. I really related to the main character and was rooting for her the whole time!
abbyandallthebooks's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
yapha's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a must-read for Disney fans! Stella has planned on going to Disneyland pre-prom since she was fourth grade. Now that she is a junior, that day is here, but it is nothing like she planned. Having been dumped by her boyfriend three weeks prior, she is tagging along with her best friend and her girlfriend. New kid Reese ends up joining them, much to Stella's dismay, as he had witnessed one of the most embarrassing moments of her life. While arguing in Sleeping Beauty's castle, Stella and Reese are suddenly transported into the middle of the Sleeping Beauty story and find themselves responsible for keeping things on track. A very fun & clever romp through a Disney classic. Highly recommended for grades 6 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
sadie01's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very interesting retelling of the Disney classic we are all familiar with. Very specific modern references which may be outdated really soon, but cute overall.
mishale1's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Stella has stopped believing in love and fairytales which is bad timing since it’s time for the prom and her trip to Disneyland. Her dream as a little girl was to get dressed up in her prom dress and go to Disney before the prom with her best friend. They’ve been planning it for years.
But a few weeks before prom, Stella’s boyfriend breaks up with her and no she’s very disbelieving of a happily ever after, love, and fairytales.
Now I will say it was a little confusing for me that Stella had such a problem with the prom theme because of her breakup. I find myself thinking the theme was picked way before her breakup. But I digress…
Stella is worried about being a third wheel at Disney because her best friend has her own date and then Stella finds out her friends invited a guy named Reece.
She actually met Reece once on the day her boyfriend broke up with her so the memory associated is a bad one.
Reece and Stella wind up at Sleeping Beauty castle alone together and something magical happens: they travel into the actual story.
I loved the fairytale setting. It was cute watching Stella and Reece get to know Rose and Phil before anyone know they were Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip.
A cute, sweet story.
But a few weeks before prom, Stella’s boyfriend breaks up with her and no she’s very disbelieving of a happily ever after, love, and fairytales.
Now I will say it was a little confusing for me that Stella had such a problem with the prom theme because of her breakup. I find myself thinking the theme was picked way before her breakup. But I digress…
Stella is worried about being a third wheel at Disney because her best friend has her own date and then Stella finds out her friends invited a guy named Reece.
She actually met Reece once on the day her boyfriend broke up with her so the memory associated is a bad one.
Reece and Stella wind up at Sleeping Beauty castle alone together and something magical happens: they travel into the actual story.
I loved the fairytale setting. It was cute watching Stella and Reece get to know Rose and Phil before anyone know they were Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip.
A cute, sweet story.
bookstobarbells's review
3.0
3.5/5
Promchanted is a take on what happens if you stumbled into the plot of Sleeping Beauty on the night of your prom and needed to make sure you didn't mess it up via the Butterfly Effect. The idea is clever and it plays right into the playfulness of Disneyland itself, however, the execution felt lacking. The pacing is really off. The book felt repetitive, dragging in some places where I found myself skimming. This would have been much more interesting if told through the various perspectives of the characters we meet along the way. The plot was also wholly predictable. I read a lot of YA and I don't often find myself knowing exactly what is coming next, but here I did. It was written with a YA sophistication, but felt very middle grade in content. Because of this, the characters kind of fall flat. Our MCs come off as cliche and follow their troupe lines very well. But there is no dynamic to them, nor do I feel like there is a strong connection between them. Because we are only following Stella's POV, the rest of the characters feel one note.
That being said, I know this will be a hit with teen readers. A magical trip to Disneyland before prom followed by a storybook adventure? They will eat that up. Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent also seem to be a big hit still. Strong effort, just wish it was a little better executed.
Promchanted is a take on what happens if you stumbled into the plot of Sleeping Beauty on the night of your prom and needed to make sure you didn't mess it up via the Butterfly Effect. The idea is clever and it plays right into the playfulness of Disneyland itself, however, the execution felt lacking. The pacing is really off. The book felt repetitive, dragging in some places where I found myself skimming. This would have been much more interesting if told through the various perspectives of the characters we meet along the way. The plot was also wholly predictable. I read a lot of YA and I don't often find myself knowing exactly what is coming next, but here I did. It was written with a YA sophistication, but felt very middle grade in content. Because of this, the characters kind of fall flat. Our MCs come off as cliche and follow their troupe lines very well. But there is no dynamic to them, nor do I feel like there is a strong connection between them. Because we are only following Stella's POV, the rest of the characters feel one note.
That being said, I know this will be a hit with teen readers. A magical trip to Disneyland before prom followed by a storybook adventure? They will eat that up. Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent also seem to be a big hit still. Strong effort, just wish it was a little better executed.