A review by snazzysie
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

funny 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

2.5

I went into "The Princess Diaries" with reasonably high expectations, considering my love for the films and the fact that they were based off of the book series. I was surprised at all the changes the movies seemed to have made to the original plot upon reading the first few chapters, disappointed with most of the characters, (especially Mia's grandmother - understandably so, when you have Julie Andrews in comparison), and also at times found myself bored with the storyline. Maybe it's because the movies are so nostalgic for me, and that I feel nothing can live up to them, maybe it's because these are technically "children's" books, so it's to be expected I'm getting bored with them, or I'm growing out of my fondness for stories in this diary layout - but either way, I personally will not be reading the other books in this series. It wasn't horrible, just not particularly enjoyable for me. Also, for a book for ages 8-12, I thought it had some more mature themes, so I would recommend it 12/13+
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