A review by andrea_heather
The Princesses of Iowa by M. Molly Backes

4.0

i liked this so much more than i wanted to at times, mostly because the unlikable characters are ~so excruciatingly unlikable~. but this book has more good than excruciating. it's refreshing to read a realistic and non-dystopic/magical/vampirical YA novel; especially one where the main character's voice is so strong. yeah, she fucks up and gets blinded by SO MUCH DRAMA but it serves the plot instead of feeling condescending. also, this does creative writing class and the whole magical english teacher thing (oh, not literally, see above) without making is too treacly and sappy. the characterization is much more grounded than the flowery precocious/precious john green stuff. (which i am fond of but it never feels entirely real.)