A review by pagingmrsvarnum
Promchanted by Morgan Matson

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!