Royal Wedding - Meg Cabot

Royal Wedding – Meg Cabot

When i look back at my childhood, and the books i loved and constantly read and re read, the ones that spring to mind are the likes of Harry Potter, Goosebumps, the Darren Shan series, and then finally anything and everything Meg Cabot. I religiously bought (or had bought for me as i was too young to really earn money) each of the Princess Diaries books, as and when they were released, then i did the same for her Mediator series as well as her All American Girl series. I simply could not get enough of Meg Cabot. Each of her books are well worn and aged from the amount of times i would reread this series, absorbing each detail, bringing the world alive in my head and wanting to get lost in it forever. Her Princess Diaries series had a really profound effect on me and my education, i started to quite poorly keep a diary to help me deal with my feelings and emotions growing up, i went through a phase of wanting to become a psychologist like the Dr Moscovitz’s...unfortunately A Level Psychology was far harder than i expected and sadly i had to consider another career path. To this day i still have the passion to want to be a writer, and write novels as well. This book did everything to inspire me to want to do things and be successful growing up. Either way Mia Thermopolis was a massive part of my life whilst i was growing up, and when Ten out of Ten (Also known as Forever Princess) ended i was left with this gaping hole, where Mia’s world used to sit.

When i learned earlier on this year that Meg was releasing another book in the series, this time as an adult novel as opposed to the YA genre the earlier series took on, i honestly was ecstatic. Mia was back! 

‘For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia's gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn't need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother's leaked "fake" wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone—especially herself—that she's not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?’

Mia makes a sterling return in this novel, and it truly feels like it hasn’t been years since we last saw her. Cabot reigns in that quirky humour and wit that we all know and love, adding drama and twists and shocks all over the shop. Everything this series has brought us before. Seeing Mia as a newly 26 year old, was shocking really. Still the same age as me, but it really alarmed me at just how fast time has gone by, and just how much has changed in the years that this series started...so in essence, i am now beginning to feel old!

We follow Mia as her dad battles to win the election, whilst he appears to be having a pretty late mid life crisis, secrets are revealed and shocking news is announced and of course we have Michael and Mia’s engagement. I love that these two are still together, nothing was more heartbreaking than seeing the breakup in the 9^th book, and the heartache and depression Mia went through after it all. So to see the two of them now, stronger than ever was brilliant, Michael is still as swoon worthy as ever, and really is the ideal man.

I loved that Mia still has her high school friends...yes including Lana! Their dynamics hadn’t changed, they had simply all grown up. And Boris...wow...was not expecting so see Boris go down that path!! I have to say i did miss the walls of AEHS. But i loved seeing how Mia’s life has progressed since then and dealing with the situations that adult life is now throwing at her.

I wish we could have seen more of Helen, Mia’s mum, as well as Rocky her little brother...i won’t say much at Mr G, as i am still in denial over this...

It was also strange to not have Lilly as prominent in this book, i know she was a bit absentee in the 10^th book, due to the big fall out between her and Mia, but it was strange to see how the dynamics between the two of them had changed, and Lilly almost didn’t seem so domineering and controlling anymore.

I am struggling to write this review, as i really do not want to spoil what happens within the pages of this book, as for those, like me, who grew up with this series, reading it firsthand not really knowing what you are going into. Well, not only does it allow you to relive your youth, but allows you to be sucked straight back into the world, for the bumpy ride. Resulting, may i add, you finishing it, and feeling like you have just been spun around on one hell of a rollercoaster, and then spat back out clinging on for more.

I don’t know if this is the only book Meg Cabot is planning to write for the now adult genre Princess Diaries. I really truly hope it isn’t. But either way i am grateful she provided us with this, as i loved entering Mia’s world again and seeing where she is now in her life.

I would say if you are a fan of Meg Cabot, or know or have followed the Princess Diaries series, i would say pick this up. It is a light hearted, humorous, romantic read. Filled with twists and turns and brilliant, memorable characters *cough* Granmere *cough* I am 26 now, and yet i went back and reread the entire Princess Diaries series from the beginning again, and i still enjoyed it! So i would say if you haven’t followed the series, no matter what your age, it is still a quick, easy, funny read and i would highly recommend, along with this new adult version of the book too. I really truly hope, wish and pray that there will be another...pretty please...with Cherry and sprinkles on top!!!!

I have given this a 5 out of 5 star rating.

Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After –Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After is the final book in Stephanie Perkins series. Following that of Isla Martin, who we very briefly meet in Anna and the French Kiss. This story focuses on the relationship of Isla and Josh, the boy she has fancied since the very start of her time at SOAP.

‘Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.’

Isla is completely different than the other female protagonists Stephanie has provided us with in this series. Isla is a lot darker and moodier, her  low self esteem, lack of confidence and believing she is not worthy to be loved make this a much darker and challenging story compared to the other, somewhat easier reads. A lot of Isla’s traits i found relatable, which could be why i really enjoyed her as our main protagonists, her shyness was endearing, and yet her lack of self worth, left me wanting to shake her to make her see just how great she was. Just because you may not have a plan for the future does not mean you are not worthy, if anything it means you are yet to find one thing to focus on, as the possibilities open to you are so vast it is impossible to just select one, and that is not a negative. If anything it means more opportunities to discover yourself and have fun whilst doing so, and not a lot of people have that opportunity.

Josh was a mysterious character; we know he is a nice funny guy from when we met him in the first book; however this book it really takes a while until we can start to figure him out. There is a dark side to him, an almost depression as such, with the life he leads, the distance with his parents and with his friends leaving him behind at school, he wants nothing more than to leave himself. I really felt through this book that Isla became that ray of light for him, making him have a bit more joy in his final year, attending class, and on time at that. That is was sad when everything started to fall apart.

It is a much faster paced romance in this novel, unlike the previous two where the relationship is a slow build and only really resolving at the very end, this was instant. To which left me wondering just where the story would go, and what challenges we would face. It saddened me greatly that one of the causes of the turbulent journey in this book was that of Isla and her own issues with herself, and not feeling worthy of being with Josh. It was incredibly frustrating reading the conflict knowing it is really over something so small, but to her it meant a great deal. Another way that Stephanie Perkins approaches that of relationships, the big self destruct we can cause ourselves from our own insecurities.

I really found this to be a fun and adorable read, i devoured it within a day, just like her other books, and i am devastated that i have finished the series. I absolutely adored the ending, with all characters from each book coming together for that final chapter, and you certainly got all the warm fuzzy feelings with the ending too. 

I have certainly found this series a feel good romance series, that i have thoroughly enjoyed reading, to the point i was to just pick them up and start them over as if i had never read them, just to enjoy that journey all over again. For this being the first books i have read by Stephanie Perkins, it has certainly put her on my radar for books to look out for from this author, as i loved every second on it all.

I would say if you like romantic feel good YA books, brilliantly written with such diverse characters and journeys, then pick up this books series as you will not regret it. It really is a quick easy feel good read, and i cannot stress enough how much i have loved reading them.

I have given this 5 out of 5 stars.

Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door – Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door is the second book in Stephanie Perkins series, following a different character, and a different couple. Set in San Francisco, we follow Lola and her story, with her relationship with Max, and the sudden reappearance of the neighbours she has dreaded returning for almost 2 years. Calliope Bell, professional figure skater and ex friend and Cricket her twin brother, and Lola’s first ever crush. I read this book in less than 24 hours, as i really could not put it down.

‘Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighbourhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.’

Lola is such a fun, quirky character, she is completely out there and so expressive with her outfits and costumes. She is raised by gay parents, one of whom we discover is actually her biological uncle. We see that Lola has a troubled history with her birth mum Norah, but it doesn’t hold her back being who she wants to be.  Everything seems to be pretty perfect otherwise, with a great best friend in Lindsey, and her much older, rocker boyfriend Max. That is until the Bell twins return home after a couple of years, and a whole world of emotions are turned on their head with Lola, leaving us completely in the dark about what has happened and just who are the Bell twins to her, and what was done to hurt her so much.

Cricket Bell, is quite literally the boy next door, but not as we know it.  He is an inventor, and is quite possibly as quirky as Lola is, yet he is kind caring, and incredibly supportive of his twin sister Calliope, as she furthers her career as a professional figure skater. Forever living in his sister’s shadow, and quite often bypassed by his parents, it is a joy to see Cricket step out of that shadow, and find himself, and try and rekindle the friendship he once had with Lola. All be it, she is now taken and in a relationship with Max. One thing i would really like to know about Cricket...just where did the name Cricket come from? what were the origins behind it? i would love to know as i have never met anybody named Cricket before.

I did not like Max, Lola's boyfriend. Nothing about him seemed right, he came across as caring and supportive enough, but something wasn’t right about him. I know most people probably think it was because he was 22, and Lola was 17. But that wasn’t it, he came across as incredibly controlling, his attitude towards Lindsey Lola’s best friend, and his almost attitude when having brunch with Lola’s parents every Sunday. If you love someone, you wouldn’t then go on to hold that against them as suffering through it. Right from the get go, i was team Cricket, and i wanted nothing more than for Max and Lola to break up. 

This novel covers very real issues within some relationships, the being in a relationship you are not quite sure you are happy in, where you believe you love a person and they are the one and yet you have doubts that those feelings are real, especially when the likes of you first crush comes back. The journey of trying to deny the feelings you have, and not being able to accept them as you are in a relationship with someone else. Not wanting to hurt that person and yet somehow find yourself then lying to them, in order to protect them but in actual fact that only highlights your guilt even more. The way Stephanie Perkins covers these issues truly is brilliant. I also loved the fact that Stephanie allowed Lola the time to find herself again after everything unravels from under her.

This story is such an adorable and easy read, i read it all in under a day as i simply could not put it down, i just wanted to know exactly what was going to happen and where the story was going to go, and just what happened for Lola to not want the Bell twins to return.  What i thought was just as great was the cameos by Anna and St Clair, Anna working with Lola in the movie theatre and St Clair being friends with Cricket at college, i loved that we were still able to follow the previous couple from the first book. It almost felt like sprinkles on top of the cake to have that within this book too.

Lola and the boy next door will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside, with a great romantic tale, humour and a bumpy journey throughout. I would say if you were looking for a light hearted, charming, easy read filled with romance then I’d say this series is 100% a read for you and i highly recommend it, with great characters, brilliant writing and an amazing journey, what more could you want?

I have given this 4 out of 5 stars.