Princess Mia by Meg Cabot

Princess Mia by Meg Cabot

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I recently learned that Meg Cabot has written an eleventh book in the Princess Diaries series to be published summer of 2015. That news was just what I needed to get me to pull out those I still had left to read in the series. I honestly don't know why I got away from them, as I just adore Mia.

In this installment, Mia has a mental breakdown after Michael ends their romantic relationship and Lilly still won't speak to her. After spending a week in bed, her parents force her to go to therapy with Dr. Knuts. She has traded princess lessons for therapy sessions, but she must still make her Grandmere happy. So, she agrees to give a speech at a Domina Rei party. While doing research for her speech, Mia comes across the diary of a Genovian princess from the 1600s. In there, she learns major news about Genovia that everyone MUST know! Only, her father and Grandmere don't want anyone else to know. What is MIa to do?

It's amazing to me that when I'm reading these books, Mia just comes alive in my head. I can totally see her and her friends. I love how things that don't seem like a huge deal to adults are the end of the world to Mia and her friends. Such Drama!! But, the drama is just so funny. It's totally over the top, but I'm not annoyed with all the angst -- I'm laughing! I like how Mia is able to take the advice of her therapist and start to overcome her depression step by little step.

Although I won't spoil it, I will say the ending was just perfect! I can't wait to read the next one. Hmm.. Do I read it soon or wait until closer to #11's release date?

Book Read: Party Princess by Meg Cabot (Princess Diaries #7)

I'm a huge Meg Cabot fan and usually love love her books, but this one just fell flat. I'm not sure if Mia's adventures are just growing old or maybe it was my reading mood, but I was just annoyed by Mia in this whole book. Sure, she's self-absorbed. What teen isn't? She's been self-absorbed in previous installments of the Princess Diaries series, but here I just became annoyed with her. I haven't completely given up on the series--I will read the last three--but I'm just not as excited about them. C rating.

Runaway by Meg Cabot (Airhead #3)

Having read the first 2 Airhead books, I knew that Runaway was going to be a must-read for me, just so I could know what happens to Em. Even though I'm a huge Meg Cabot fan, I was a bit skeptic about the premise of Airhead. Yes, it's silly to think about a full body transplant, but crazy as it seems, I'm able to ignore that and just delve into Em's life.

The second book in the series, Being Nikki, left the reader at the climax, uncertain about Em's future. Runaway begins almost exactly where the previous novel left off. Em is at Brandon's beach house, blackmailed into staying there with him, the real Nikki, her brother and mom. Forced to lie about her feelings for Christopher, Em's feeling depressed and uncertain about what her future holds, when she has several surprising visitors at the beach house. Still trying to figure out what Brandon's dad, Robert Stark's ultimate plan is, Em recruits her cohorts in helping her get one step closer to the truth.

I adore Lulu, Em's roommate and partner in crime. She's an adorable and fun-loving sidekick that finds some well-deserved happiness in Runaway. I was also thrilled to find Em's sister, Frida, plays a much larger role. The ultimate climax is over-the-top, but works well in this fantastical story.

Fans of Cabot's other stories will find another hit here, but I do feel one needs to read this series in order. I'm not sure the latter two books will make much sense if you don't already know Em/Nikki's story. Runaway is another fast-paced, suspenseful adventure with just enough romance to make you smile. Loved it! A 'B' book for me.

Moving Day by Meg Cabot (Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls #1)

Let me start by saying that I love reading Meg Cabot's books. I *get* her humor, her style, her stories -- they definitely match what I want to read. Which leads me to her series for younger readers... Allie Finkle's Rules For Girls. The intended audience is much younger than for the other Cabot books I read and I hesitated a bit in reading it. Would her writing style and humor still work with a lower interest level?

Allie is nine and in the fourth grade. Her life is thrown into chaos when her parents announce that the family is moving. Suddenly Allie's safe, known world is changing -- she's going to move to a new house, start a new school, have to make new friends. How will she cope?

Each chapter starts off with one of Allie's "Rules for Girls", such as "Don't Stick a Spatula Down Your Best Friend's Throat." The rules are a cute, smile-to-yourself kind of way to put you in Allie's frame of mind, and for me they worked. Allie's fears and hopes about all of the changes in her life seemed totally believable. I can remember how scary it was to move and wonder if you were ever going to find a new best friend or how your bed would fit into your new bedroom.

I found the book just a little too young for my middle school girls, but I bet this series is hugely popular with the upper elementary crowd. That said, I totally loved it -- the story, Allie, the zombie hand. Meg Cabot can write for whatever interest level she chooses. I give it a B, Recommended, especially for 9-10 year old girls!

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Being Nikki, the follow-up to Airhead, continues Em's story as she adjusts to her new life in the body of famed teen supermodel Nikki Howard. When Nikki's brother arrives in New York City looking for help in locating their missing mother, Em becomes embroiled in intrigue as to what really did happen to Nikki, why Em's brain was transplanted into her body, and what Robert Stark and Stark Enterprises has to do with it.

Okay, suspend your disbelief once again with the whole body transplant thing. I know, that's completely out there, but I completely forgot the silliness of that while reading Being Nikki. The story tiptoes away from the whole tomboy-in-a-supermodel-body gag and develops into a suspense-filled romantic adventure. I loved how the humor took the edge off of some what might have otherwise been intense moments. Some of the secondary characters are stepping into the spotlight and stealing the show, especially Lulu. She's fabulous and highly entertaining. The ending is another cliffhanger, which I hate, because it leaves you desperate to get your hands on the next installment of the series. (Yes, I've already preordered Runaway.)

Fans of Meg Cabot will adore Being Nikki as much as I did. Highly entertaining and humorous, it was a fabulous escape from a dreary day. The only reason I didn't give it an A stems from the crazy backstory of the whole body transplant. Yes, I still can't completely get over that. But, it's a strong B+ for me.