Book Review: The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Goodreads summary: She's just a New York City girl living with her artist mom...

News Flash: Dad is prince of Genovia. (So that's why a limo meets her at the airport!)

Downer: Dad can't have any more kids. (So no heir to the throne.)

Shock of the Century: Like it or not, Mia Thermopolis is prime princess material.

Mia must take princess lessons from her dreaded grandmére, the dowager princess of Genovia, who thinks Mia has a thing or two to learn before she steps up to the throne.

Well, her father can lecture her until he's royal-blue in the face about her princessly duty—no way is she moving to Genovia and leaving Manhattan behind. But what's a girl to do when her name is Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo?

my review: This is one of those rare cases where I've watched the movie before I read the book, and I have to say, I enjoyed watching the movie better. Mia Thermopolis has a unique voice that perfectly embodies the essence of a high schooler, with typical problems like finding a date to a dance, doing well in school and getting into fights with best friends. Mia was humorous, oblivious to love like most high school girls are, and naive to what being a princess really means.

Mia's grandmére is overly strict and tries to whip Mia into a princess, her father comes to New York City to help in the transition, and her mother is dating Mia's Algebra teacher. Not to mention, her crush Josh Richter doesn't notice her until she's a princess and her best friend's brother, Michael, secretly likes her.

Even though Mia's voice in the book was great, I thought the movie had a better execution of what a princess's role would be. She was more gracious with her responsibilities, you could visually see the transformation from Mia Thermopolis to Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, and there seemed to be an actual climax and resolution in the movie that the book seemed to be lacking and trying to imagine Julie Andrews as a heartless grandmother was a bit hard while reading the book. Also, the ending had an uneven flow right up to the very end and the 'Blind Guy' was a loose string that did not need to be tied.

Overall, I love the concept of a typical teenager finding out she's a princess. I love the voice (I can't say it enough) but there were other things that were lacking that were filled in the movie. I understand it's the first book of a series, but I think even in a series, each book should be a stand alone as well. But, taking into consideration that the movie was so well done and because I saw it first, I'm giving The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot a 5/5.