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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If the author happens to be reading this review: I'm sorry. I'm genuinely happy that you've found success in the publishing industry. I wish you all the best.
However. (And this is the part for readers and anyone who, like me, thought: oh, a Princess Diaries retelling! I love the Princess Diaries, and cute silly romcoms! I'll give this a shot!) This is one of the worst novels I've ever had the displeasure of reading. I was nearly hyperventilating at how bad it was by the end.
This review probably won't be cohesive. Spoilers throughout.
My first problem was with the stakes. Which is to say, they were there, but entirely contrived. The author chose to give both of the characters very supportive families and queer-friendly countries of origin. Great! I don't mind ignoring homophobia so you can have your cute romcom. But it does mean that if you're writing about two queer princes, you're going to have to come up with some real conflict.
There was a throwaway line from Erik's Gran that "our [Sunstad] relations with Mitanor have been strained of late" (c6). Ok, cool. So the issues is that their countries don't like each other so they can't be together. But that's also not it, because King Alexander of Mitanor called Prince Erik of Sunstad with no problem. He was known to be in contact with him--in very casual ways, by the way--and easily extended in invitation to not only draft Erik into being his secret son's tutor (why couldn't his other son, Jamie's brother, do it? Just because Erik is gay? I'll accept this though because I know plot has to happen). For all the telling-not-showing this book did, there were no reasons given to the tensions between the two nations other than that Mitanor is like. Chill. Because Alexander used to be a party boy.
So then, the conflict comes from Gran not approving of Jamie. Because he... has other duties. Ok, I guess. She's super supportive of him and kind but chooses this one point to get hung up on. Fine, I'll accept it. But then it turns out she had issue with Crown Prince Stefan's fiancee Elise when they first met, and got over that once Stefan "fought." It seems like the author and I have different defenitions of the word fight, beause I don't particularly consider a two minute ocnversation with your grandmother where she acqueieses nearly immediately to you professing that you've "found your person" (you are 17 years OLD Erik! I see why she doubts you, actually, on account of your 17 yearsoldness!) and then everything being. Fine. We were also never really given a reason as to why Gran didn't like Elise, only that she'd liked the media mogul's daughter she'd chosen better. Is it like, implied racism? I could be wrong, but I think it's implied that Elise is a WOC because she "wears her hair in long braids" and then her family member who ends up being the flower girl at the wedding is also wearing her hair in "tight rows of braids." But it couldn't be racism! Because Sunstad is perfect and progressive! So Gran just like, doesn't support women in STEM, I guess.
I have to talk about The Princess Diaries. I love that series. I've read all the books (many of them twice). I've seen the movies so many times. I say this partially to prove that I've got a high level of suspension of disbelief, but also taste. I think I was supposed to find the homages to TPD in this book ("Oh, I wonder why this breakfast has pears," "Elegant elderly woman sliding down a staircase on a mattress," the diary epilogue) charming, but really, they made me think about how much I would have preferred to be watching or reading TPD. Also, the fact that THESE were the references told me that the author has only seen the films, not read the books. (My proof is that the books made it VERY clear that Genovia's key export is olives oil. My Queen Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo did NOT suffer through all those meetings with the Genovian Olive Growing Association for this.) TBH, I think he should have. If he didn't... he should have read them again. Those books are awesome. The conflict is real, the characters are over the top yet grounded... chefs kiss. As much as I support people having good parents in YA, part of why TPD worked was that Grandmere was AWFUL. I miss that grouchy old woman and her tatooed on eyeliner.
Max was clearly meant to be a Lily stand in... but she didn't work partially because even without hearing it I knew "Ashes" was one of the worst works of lyricism of all time, the fact that she talked by saying things like "No matter what she says, you know I'm here for you, right?" (This would be fine if it was a one-off, but EVERYONE in this book talks like this. Everyone.) Her conflict with Jamie was also contrived. They worked it out in a five minute phone call, oh I'm shocked. I miss Lily Moskovitz and her public access television show and general air of backstabbery.
This book was poorly edited, IMO. Aside from the stiffly-warm-and-perfectly-communicated-to-the-point-of-sounding-like-an-instructional-pamphlet-on-how-to-be-a-healthy-communicator kind of dialogue, there were some weird choices. One that stands out was when Erik said people said his mom and Gran looked really similar, but their hair is different and they wear different amounts of jewelry. That doesn't mean that they can't be spitting images of each other, babe. Do you think every blonde who models for Cartier looks the same, then? Another thing that bugged me was when Jamie wanted to visit Mitanor, but his mom said plane tickets were expensive, so he said "Let's ask my father, the King, to pay, because I don't want to miss out on this just because we can't afford it" and his mom agrees and then we learn in the airport scene (also bugged me! It was said that Max hugged Jamie at the gate when they hadn't gone through security yet. This is a post-Patriot Act world...) that even though Alexander offered to pay, his mom paid anyway, which is why they were flying coach.
Which brings me to the family dynamics here. First, why did Emilia (Jamie's bio-mom) run away in the first place? She needed to get away from Mitanor, but also stayed in contact with her parents, and seemingly Alexander also? I feel like there could have been a different solution here? I felt really bad for Alexander. He clearly REALLY wanted to be a part of his kid's life. I get why Jamie's mom followed her friends wishes, but again, she went back on them anyway by agreeing to this "age 17 bombshell" plan. Could she not have let them stay in SOME sort of contact? Not to compare this to TPD again (but I'm practically being begged to) but in BOTH versions of the series Mia has some sort of relationship with her dad. Now, I get that this partially worked because she had limited access to the internet and so wouldn't have been as inclined to look him up, but. Still. Find a way. Because Alexander embraces his kid so much (though he also immediately pawns him off onto this stranger from another country instead of teaching him things himself? Idk) that it feels cruel to have had them fully seperated.
Some other random things that bothered me that I won't go into too much detail on because I'm tired of thinking about this novel:
However. (And this is the part for readers and anyone who, like me, thought: oh, a Princess Diaries retelling! I love the Princess Diaries, and cute silly romcoms! I'll give this a shot!) This is one of the worst novels I've ever had the displeasure of reading. I was nearly hyperventilating at how bad it was by the end.
This review probably won't be cohesive. Spoilers throughout.
My first problem was with the stakes. Which is to say, they were there, but entirely contrived. The author chose to give both of the characters very supportive families and queer-friendly countries of origin. Great! I don't mind ignoring homophobia so you can have your cute romcom. But it does mean that if you're writing about two queer princes, you're going to have to come up with some real conflict.
There was a throwaway line from Erik's Gran that "our [Sunstad] relations with Mitanor have been strained of late" (c6). Ok, cool. So the issues is that their countries don't like each other so they can't be together. But that's also not it, because King Alexander of Mitanor called Prince Erik of Sunstad with no problem. He was known to be in contact with him--in very casual ways, by the way--and easily extended in invitation to not only draft Erik into being his secret son's tutor (why couldn't his other son, Jamie's brother, do it? Just because Erik is gay? I'll accept this though because I know plot has to happen). For all the telling-not-showing this book did, there were no reasons given to the tensions between the two nations other than that Mitanor is like. Chill. Because Alexander used to be a party boy.
So then, the conflict comes from Gran not approving of Jamie. Because he... has other duties. Ok, I guess. She's super supportive of him and kind but chooses this one point to get hung up on. Fine, I'll accept it. But then it turns out she had issue with Crown Prince Stefan's fiancee Elise when they first met, and got over that once Stefan "fought." It seems like the author and I have different defenitions of the word fight, beause I don't particularly consider a two minute ocnversation with your grandmother where she acqueieses nearly immediately to you professing that you've "found your person" (you are 17 years OLD Erik! I see why she doubts you, actually, on account of your 17 yearsoldness!) and then everything being. Fine. We were also never really given a reason as to why Gran didn't like Elise, only that she'd liked the media mogul's daughter she'd chosen better. Is it like, implied racism? I could be wrong, but I think it's implied that Elise is a WOC because she "wears her hair in long braids" and then her family member who ends up being the flower girl at the wedding is also wearing her hair in "tight rows of braids." But it couldn't be racism! Because Sunstad is perfect and progressive! So Gran just like, doesn't support women in STEM, I guess.
I have to talk about The Princess Diaries. I love that series. I've read all the books (many of them twice). I've seen the movies so many times. I say this partially to prove that I've got a high level of suspension of disbelief, but also taste. I think I was supposed to find the homages to TPD in this book ("Oh, I wonder why this breakfast has pears," "Elegant elderly woman sliding down a staircase on a mattress," the diary epilogue) charming, but really, they made me think about how much I would have preferred to be watching or reading TPD. Also, the fact that THESE were the references told me that the author has only seen the films, not read the books. (My proof is that the books made it VERY clear that Genovia's key export is olives oil. My Queen Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo did NOT suffer through all those meetings with the Genovian Olive Growing Association for this.) TBH, I think he should have. If he didn't... he should have read them again. Those books are awesome. The conflict is real, the characters are over the top yet grounded... chefs kiss. As much as I support people having good parents in YA, part of why TPD worked was that Grandmere was AWFUL. I miss that grouchy old woman and her tatooed on eyeliner.
Max was clearly meant to be a Lily stand in... but she didn't work partially because even without hearing it I knew "Ashes" was one of the worst works of lyricism of all time, the fact that she talked by saying things like "No matter what she says, you know I'm here for you, right?" (This would be fine if it was a one-off, but EVERYONE in this book talks like this. Everyone.) Her conflict with Jamie was also contrived. They worked it out in a five minute phone call, oh I'm shocked. I miss Lily Moskovitz and her public access television show and general air of backstabbery.
This book was poorly edited, IMO. Aside from the stiffly-warm-and-perfectly-communicated-to-the-point-of-sounding-like-an-instructional-pamphlet-on-how-to-be-a-healthy-communicator kind of dialogue, there were some weird choices. One that stands out was when Erik said people said his mom and Gran looked really similar, but their hair is different and they wear different amounts of jewelry. That doesn't mean that they can't be spitting images of each other, babe. Do you think every blonde who models for Cartier looks the same, then? Another thing that bugged me was when Jamie wanted to visit Mitanor, but his mom said plane tickets were expensive, so he said "Let's ask my father, the King, to pay, because I don't want to miss out on this just because we can't afford it" and his mom agrees and then we learn in the airport scene (also bugged me! It was said that Max hugged Jamie at the gate when they hadn't gone through security yet. This is a post-Patriot Act world...) that even though Alexander offered to pay, his mom paid anyway, which is why they were flying coach.
Which brings me to the family dynamics here. First, why did Emilia (Jamie's bio-mom) run away in the first place? She needed to get away from Mitanor, but also stayed in contact with her parents, and seemingly Alexander also? I feel like there could have been a different solution here? I felt really bad for Alexander. He clearly REALLY wanted to be a part of his kid's life. I get why Jamie's mom followed her friends wishes, but again, she went back on them anyway by agreeing to this "age 17 bombshell" plan. Could she not have let them stay in SOME sort of contact? Not to compare this to TPD again (but I'm practically being begged to) but in BOTH versions of the series Mia has some sort of relationship with her dad. Now, I get that this partially worked because she had limited access to the internet and so wouldn't have been as inclined to look him up, but. Still. Find a way. Because Alexander embraces his kid so much (though he also immediately pawns him off onto this stranger from another country instead of teaching him things himself? Idk) that it feels cruel to have had them fully seperated.
Some other random things that bothered me that I won't go into too much detail on because I'm tired of thinking about this novel:
- The line "She was talking about Spencer. Sometimes she referred to him by his last name." Why did we need this detail? It added nothing. Jamie's friends (other than Max and Ren, who was also a contrived and so immediately forgotten about of a conflict when some guy he liked told his dad who told the press about Jamie's true identity) are just there to be a groupchat he texts sometimes. They all have appearances and personalitys seemingly just to have them. Why wasn't Spencer Collins just introduced like this: Blah blah Collins said or did. This was my friend Spenser Collins. This would have worked with the writing style perfectly.
- Jamie's first press conference outfit pants had a floral stripe down the side. Huh?
- The suit Erik wears to his brother's wedding is "one of the nicest things [he's] ever worn." Ok, I think I've found the true conflict here! Sunstad is struggling financially, which is why this prince hasn't worn really super duper nice clothes before, and the pressure is on Erik because he needs to marry rich! And... oh? That's not it? They're doing fine and have free college and healthcare? Oh...
- Why are the Mitanorian horses and colleges named English words. Oakwood. Daisy. Pony. Apollo I'll accept.
- Jamie BARELY bonded with his family AT ALL over the course of this book. His dad, brother, grandparents... tbh I think he had more meaningful interaction with his stepmom than anyone else. This really bugged me. You've wondered your WHOLE LIFE about your bio family and you FINALLY meet them and. You're playing knock-off Skyrim with a stranger. Ok.
- I didn't like when Erik positioned himself as Jamie's mentor. For a book really concerned with well communicated personal dynamics, it was a weird addition of a power dynamic.
- This entire novel. Idk. I'm tired.
Positives:
I thought the detail of sci-fi dystopian movies being filmed in Sunstad because of its sad architecture was funny. This book was positive and happy. Everyone had good parents and families, which is refreshing.
This book read like a middle school wish fulfilment fanfic. But with better grammar.
I'm so tired.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am disappointed in this book. The summary was all I wanted as someone who grew up loving The Princess Diaries and loves the Royal trope thanks to Merlin Fanfics.
First of all, I did not realize that it was YA when I got the ARC. That is fine but it was a bit of a surprise when the characters were 17. I thought the characters were sweet and their relationship was very cute. But there were some things so unbelievable that it took me straight out. Firstly, Jamie did not seem to care that he suddenly had a whole new family. If I found out I had a dad and a brother that would be my priority rather than a cute boy. It seemed like he didn't have any interest at all in his new brother. Then he called all the royals first names only. This seems way too casual for foreign royals or even parents of your boyfriend/friends. I still call my friend's parents Mr. and Mrs. Also, is much tell rather than showing. Some of the writing seemed like it was a first draft. There was never a stated reason why one character forbids a relationship besides convenient conflict. I would love to see this book have a couple more drafts to perfect some of the flaws. I did enjoy how well-adjusted the family dynamics were. No silly dynamics of jealousy between siblings or step-parents and bio-parents. It is overall very fluffy and an easy, fast read so teens may enjoy it more than me despite the flaws.
First of all, I did not realize that it was YA when I got the ARC. That is fine but it was a bit of a surprise when the characters were 17. I thought the characters were sweet and their relationship was very cute. But there were some things so unbelievable that it took me straight out. Firstly, Jamie did not seem to care that he suddenly had a whole new family. If I found out I had a dad and a brother that would be my priority rather than a cute boy. It seemed like he didn't have any interest at all in his new brother. Then he called all the royals first names only. This seems way too casual for foreign royals or even parents of your boyfriend/friends. I still call my friend's parents Mr. and Mrs. Also, is much tell rather than showing. Some of the writing seemed like it was a first draft. There was never a stated reason why one character forbids a relationship besides convenient conflict. I would love to see this book have a couple more drafts to perfect some of the flaws. I did enjoy how well-adjusted the family dynamics were. No silly dynamics of jealousy between siblings or step-parents and bio-parents. It is overall very fluffy and an easy, fast read so teens may enjoy it more than me despite the flaws.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated