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397th out of 1,173 books
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8,389 voters
A Farewell to Charms (Princess for Hire #3)
by
Lindsey Leavitt (Goodreads Author)
Desi Bascomb is a princess substitute prodigy--she's the fastest employee ever to advance to level three in the Facade Agency, and the youngest to ever be a full-time sub. But now with all eyes on Desi, the only thing she wants is a moment alone to talk to Reed, who's a Facade legacy and secretly a sub for princes As Desi trains for her new role, she spies more than a few...more
Hardcover
Published
June 26th 2012
by Disney-Hyperion
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*Warning: This review contains spoilers for those who have not read the first 2 books in the Princess for Hire series, Princess for Hire and The Royal Treatment.*
I have to admit, I was pretty excited about this book. It even made my list of top summer book releases http://aliceinreaderland.wordpress.co.... In Leavitt’s first book in the series, Princess for Hire, we meet the Desi, our sweet and quirky lead who wants to make an impact. I loved watching Desi grow and ended up gasping at the fantas...more
I have to admit, I was pretty excited about this book. It even made my list of top summer book releases http://aliceinreaderland.wordpress.co.... In Leavitt’s first book in the series, Princess for Hire, we meet the Desi, our sweet and quirky lead who wants to make an impact. I loved watching Desi grow and ended up gasping at the fantas...more
This book is a light read that I really like. Girly. Princess. Magic. Romance.
So if you like any of the topics above, you are going to love this book!
The main character Desi is mature and smart. I loved reading about Desi and Reed making a plan... and their attraction to each other.
The things that I don't like about the book is that Desi is too young for a romance that is going to last. She is also too mature for a 13 year old. (I am 14 and even I, who is mature in my school is not as mature as...more
So if you like any of the topics above, you are going to love this book!
The main character Desi is mature and smart. I loved reading about Desi and Reed making a plan... and their attraction to each other.
The things that I don't like about the book is that Desi is too young for a romance that is going to last. She is also too mature for a 13 year old. (I am 14 and even I, who is mature in my school is not as mature as...more
Since finding out that Facade weeds out those substitutes who aren't good enough--and takes their magic to use for their own purposes--Desi is determined to find a way to change that. As much as she enjoys being a sub, she doesn't feel right about Facade taking magic from others. And now that she realizes that Reed, the boy she's desperately trying not have a crush on since she knows her best friend likes him, is also a sub, she doesn't know how to steer clear of him, especially since he might b...more
I was waiting all year for this book to come out because I loved the second book so much more than the first. I kind of presumed it would just get better and better. But to describe the third installment in one word, I would choose "ANTICLIMACTIC." Or perhaps "LACKLUSTER." Maybe even "YAWN-WORTHY." AND YES, ALL CAPS FOR EMPHASIS. BECAUSE I'M DORKY LIKE THAT. The suspenseful parts went by too fast and the protagonist's solutions to conflicts were far less creative than her t-shirt one-liners. How...more
A nice close to this series, but perhaps I read them too fast and was tired of it by this last book in the trilogy. The storyline moved from the wonder of being a princess surrogate in the first book to larger issues of how magic is being misused by the company for the benefit of the few. Desi's schemes to restore stripped magic and uncover the perfidy of the council members is complicated by desperately trying to keep the magic-secret from her best friend, which looks like it is costing her he...more
This book is a light read that I really like. Girly. Princess. Magic. Romance.
So if you like any of the topics above, you are going to love this book!
The main character Desi is mature and smart. I loved reading about Desi and Reed making a plan... and their attraction to each other.
The things that I don't like about the book is that Desi is too young for a romance that is going to last. She is also too mature for a 13 year old. (I am 14 and even I, who is mature in my school is not as mature as...more
So if you like any of the topics above, you are going to love this book!
The main character Desi is mature and smart. I loved reading about Desi and Reed making a plan... and their attraction to each other.
The things that I don't like about the book is that Desi is too young for a romance that is going to last. She is also too mature for a 13 year old. (I am 14 and even I, who is mature in my school is not as mature as...more
Okay so at first I was skeptical about reading this series because the first book cover was way too pink, had "Disney" written on it and it was a jr. high fiction. But I didn't want to judge a book by its cover so I picked it up and read. Now I've just finished the last book in a little over 24 hours and I loved it!!
Seriously don't let the cover deter, this series was great! It was such an original story which was refreshing after reading so many YA high school fiction stories about girl meets b...more
Seriously don't let the cover deter, this series was great! It was such an original story which was refreshing after reading so many YA high school fiction stories about girl meets b...more
Reading A Farewell to Charms was bittersweet. I adore the Princess for Hire series and am sad to see it come to an end. But I'm excited to read more from Lindsey.
There is a lot going on in this last book. Perhaps a little too much, but there are so many different plot elements that need to be resolved. You have Desi serving as a Level 3 sub, further investigating & protesting Facade's practice of stealing magic, Desi and Reed's burgeoning relationship, conflicts between Desi and her friend K...more
There is a lot going on in this last book. Perhaps a little too much, but there are so many different plot elements that need to be resolved. You have Desi serving as a Level 3 sub, further investigating & protesting Facade's practice of stealing magic, Desi and Reed's burgeoning relationship, conflicts between Desi and her friend K...more
- I don't really like how young Desi is. I wish she was just a little bit older, like 16-17 instead of 13. I think the story would be more suited for an older teen. She has a lot of responsibility, and a girl's relationship at 13 doesn't last. I'd like to think that Reed and Desi have a long lasting relationship.
- I liked this one better than the second book, but not as much as the first. It was still funny and charming, but I'm not huge into the Jr. High drama stuff.
- I liked how everything wa...more
- I liked this one better than the second book, but not as much as the first. It was still funny and charming, but I'm not huge into the Jr. High drama stuff.
- I liked how everything wa...more
★★★★★ 5/5 stars!!!
This was such a lovely end to a gem of a series. If you just base this series off of it's appearance, then you are completely wrong. Yes, it is labeled as a "children's" book but it's a lot more mature than you would think it is, and the main character Desi is really mature for a 13/14 year old. I was NOT that mature when I was that old!!! Lindsey Leavitt should have at least made Desi 15/16... But oh well.
Anyways. This novel reaches beyond the scope of the hey-let's-just-inv...more
This was such a lovely end to a gem of a series. If you just base this series off of it's appearance, then you are completely wrong. Yes, it is labeled as a "children's" book but it's a lot more mature than you would think it is, and the main character Desi is really mature for a 13/14 year old. I was NOT that mature when I was that old!!! Lindsey Leavitt should have at least made Desi 15/16... But oh well.
Anyways. This novel reaches beyond the scope of the hey-let's-just-inv...more
4.5/5
**Spoilers for the earlier books**
After loving Princess for Hire and The Royal Treatment, I was eagerly anticipating this conclusion to the trilogy. The previous book ended with suspense as Desi confirmed her suspicions that Reed was also a sub in the male branch of Facade.
Through her discussions with Reed and her relationship with her agent Meredith, the world of Facade is vastly expanded. We see more of the other agents and managing staff as well as more about the ultimate designs and pur...more
**Spoilers for the earlier books**
After loving Princess for Hire and The Royal Treatment, I was eagerly anticipating this conclusion to the trilogy. The previous book ended with suspense as Desi confirmed her suspicions that Reed was also a sub in the male branch of Facade.
Through her discussions with Reed and her relationship with her agent Meredith, the world of Facade is vastly expanded. We see more of the other agents and managing staff as well as more about the ultimate designs and pur...more
I didn't feel like this was as good as the others in the series, but it was still enjoyable. I think this one is different because it wasn't quite as cutsie, and was a little bit more ... angsty? I'm not sure of the word, but there were a lot of other emotions, like jealousy, anger, lying and the such that made it just a little less ... fun. The ending of how Facade treats her - I didn't quite buy it. Still, I liked the love interest and it was a great series.
This series kind of straddles the middle grade/YA boundary--and, in fact, that's my biggest complaint: the main character acts older than she really is. Otherwise, it's a fun premise (magic make-up changes your appearance so you can sub for royals while they vacation) with some twists that keep it exciting. It sounded like this is the end, but it also left open the potential for a new series. I'd say this is a perfect series for 5th-7th grade girls.
Leavitt has created a whimsical and magical series, yet, 'Farewell to Charms' falls flat. Readers enchanted by Facade, Desi, Meredith, and Reed will find that all the build-up, secrecy, and romantic tension told in the previous two novels comes to a point in this latest book. And promptly falls off a cliff. While still enjoyable I have to recommend it, but don't be expecting the same gleeful anticipation as the last two Princess for Hire books.
Jan 27, 2013
Liza Wiemer
added it
A Farewell to Charms is the third books to a wonderful MG series PRINCESS FOR HIRE by Lindsey Leavitt. Desi is a smart, clever eighth grade girl who is a member of Facade, an organization of magical humans who substitute for royalty. With a few swishes of makeup on the cheeks, Desi is transformed into the likeness of her assigned princess. Then she lives that girl's life until the real princess comes back from her vacation.
In this third installment, Desi's budding relationship with Reed, a youn...more
In this third installment, Desi's budding relationship with Reed, a youn...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Loved the book just loved it. and desi has found another person that works for facde but is this person, a guy, a new alliance for Desi or is he also unwilling to belive facde is and thing but good? Read this book and find out as Desi gose undercover litery to uncover the what Facde is keeping in the dark to the rest of the agdency while she possibly has some romanceon the way?!?
I think my favorite thing about this book is that Desi had to make a choice between going with the crowd or being true to what she believed was right, and not only did she make the right choice, but she had to face the consequences. Unpleasant consequences. I love that this book didn't make standing up for what you believe in the easy choice, because I find that it rarely is.
I was lucky to get a copy of this before it's release(motherhood has it's perks). I have been so excited to see how Desi's story ends and A Farewell to Charms did not disappoint. There is real growth in Desi character and I loved the courage and strength that she showed. My favorite of the 3!
I was admittedly surprised by this book. I expected a much quicker happily ever after and then, you know, stuff after that...
But it's still sweet and it's still fun and it's a different sort of happily ever after than I thought but it was good. And I like having seen Desi grow through the series. I loved Meredith questioning her after its said and done whether she really wanted (view spoiler). Desi has these great ideas...more
But it's still sweet and it's still fun and it's a different sort of happily ever after than I thought but it was good. And I like having seen Desi grow through the series. I loved Meredith questioning her after its said and done whether she really wanted (view spoiler). Desi has these great ideas...more
I adore Lindsey Leavitt's humor. Soooo funny. It's kind of surprising, how creative and cute she was telling the story. I liked the plot and how it ended was perfect. Obviously targeted to teenage girls, but still a good read for a grown up too.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Goodreads Giveaway.
I think the story would have been more believable if Desi were older than 13. Her maturity level wasn't realistic. Maybe I would have liked the book better if I had read the first two in the series.
I think the story would have been more believable if Desi were older than 13. Her maturity level wasn't realistic. Maybe I would have liked the book better if I had read the first two in the series.
Dec 02, 2012
Rose
added it
Fun next book in the series about the girl from Idaho who fills in for princesses who need a break. And who discovers problems with the company she works for, Facade.
Adorable! There is simply not a better word for this series. It's Princess Diaries with a dose of reality (Desi is not a Princess) and magic. In this concluding book, Desi enters level three of her work with Facade Agency.
A Farewell to Charms was such a fun end to a great middle grade series. Aimed at a tween audience this series holds plenty of cross-over appeal to those who enjoy squeaky clean, fun reads like me.
The first book in the series was my favorite but I've enjoyed both sequels. We get to see a lot of growth in Desi in this final book in the Princess for Hire book. I missed some of Desi's subbing antics from the first books but still enjoyed this series wrap up.
If you are looking for good clean, lighthe...more
The first book in the series was my favorite but I've enjoyed both sequels. We get to see a lot of growth in Desi in this final book in the Princess for Hire book. I missed some of Desi's subbing antics from the first books but still enjoyed this series wrap up.
If you are looking for good clean, lighthe...more
What a disappointing ending to an otherwise charming series. I had high hopes for this book, but Desi being obsessed with how Facade stole magic, and her and Reed's "relationship" never seeming to go anywhere - the whole storyline just fell flat for me. Stick with books 1 and 2 and imagine your own ending for the series.
As spunky & readable as the others in the series. Love these juvenile fiction speed reads... Would highly recommend them to tween & teen girls.
This was a cute ending to a cute series, nothing spectacular and perhaps not as funny as the previous two. I felt the like character's fit better with their age descriptions in this book and I was less annoyed by the Idaho references (most likely because I got used to it than that they got better). The conclusion might have felt contrived except that the whole book felt a little that way so the ending just fit right in. I would recommend this books to adolescents who need a boost in just being y...more
This has been such a fun series! Great read if you want to escape from reality for a little while. I'm sad it's over though.
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Lindsey Leavitt is a former elementary school teacher and present day writer/mom to three (mostly) adorable little girls. She is married to her high school lab partner and lives in Las Vegas. She is the author of the PRINCESS FOR HIRE series (www.princessforhire.com), SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD and GOING VINTAGE
Visit her on the web at www.lindseyleavitt.com
More about Lindsey Leavitt...
Visit her on the web at www.lindseyleavitt.com
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“A bead of cold sweat dangled on my fingertip before dripping onto the doorbell. What if I got electrocuted from my wet fingers? I would die literally inches from my first high school party. And everyone would be like, oh, poor thing was so nervous, what a tragedy. Death by sweat.”
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Aug 21, 2012 08:51pm