The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, #1)

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The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries #1)

by Meg Cabot (Goodreads Author)

3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 · rating details · 84,059 ratings · 2,349 reviews

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 grandmere, the dowager princess of...more

Paperback, 256 pages

Published September 6th 2002 by HarperCollins (first published September 19th 2000)

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Aug 15, 2008 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2008, humour, fiction

If you've seen the movie version, this book takes up about the first third or maybe half of the movie (from what I remember), but don't let that fool you into thinking nothing much happens in this book.

Mia Thermopolis lives in Manhattan with her artist mother Helen, going to a private school called Albert Einstein High and spending the summers with her father and his mother at her chateau in France. She knows they're rich, but she thinks her dad is just a politician. At school she's unpopular an...more If you've seen the movie version, this book takes up about the first third or maybe half of the movie (from what I remember), but don't let that fool you into thinking nothing much happens in this book.

Mia Thermopolis lives in Manhattan with her artist mother Helen, going to a private school called Albert Einstein High and spending the summers with her father and his mother at her chateau in France. She knows they're rich, but she thinks her dad is just a politician. At school she's unpopular and has "triangular" hair; her best friend Lilly has her own tv show and is trying to expose the racism of the Chinese owners of the deli across the road for discounting Asian students 5 cents; she's in love with the most popular boy at school, Josh, who doesn't even seem to know she's alive; she's failing Algebra; and her mum is going out with her teacher Mr Gianini.

Life is already a bit of a strain and when her dad tells her he's the crown prince of Genovia and, since his testicular cancer has left him unable to have more children, Mia is now the heir to the throne, it becomes even more unbearable.

She's seriously not happy about the news, but makes a compromise with her Dad: that she'll keep going to school like normal, but would spend the summers in Genovia doing the princess thing. She wasn't expecting her formidable grandmother to come to New York to give her princess lessons, and she wasn't expecting the same grandmother to leak the story to the press. Now she's suddenly popular but it's the last thing she wants.

Mia is effortlessly engaging, her voice and personality coming through strongly in her diary entries. She's funny without meaning to be, insightful without realising it, reveals more than she intends, and so allows the reader to not only really get to know her but also see what's going on more clearly than she does, as she's blinded by her own interests, passions and opinions. It's actually very cleverly written, and very funny.

The grandmother is a scary character - Julie Andrews really toned the character down for the movie - she wears a purple turban, smokes a lot, drinks her favourite cocktail all the time, and comes across as somewhat harsh and even cruel. She certainly intimidates her son, Phillipe, and anyone else who crosses her path. She may have met her match with Mia - and I can see that as Mia slowly grows, matures and, yes, transforms, she'll probably have a softening effect on her grandmother as well. She's certainly got an interesting past, but we only get hints of it at this stage.

Essentially, what saves this book from being just another YA journal-style teenage girl gushathon is Mia's liveliness, her spirit, her humour and, well, her. She's a wonderful protagonist and a good role model - not that she doesn't make some pretty silly mistakes and choices along the way. She's also a familiar character, and reminds me that what's considered "ordinary" usually disguises something pretty extraordinary. Plus, I love her summing-up of Marx's contradictions of capitalism; despite the fluffy pink cover, this is no Gossip Girls kind of book - Mia's not into having the latest crap: she's a conscientious worrier, and wants to join Greenpeace to save the whales. She's a bit of a dag, really, and that makes her infinitely likeable, even loveable.
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28 likes · like · see review

Mar 31, 2008 Dawn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-it, ya

I never got around to reading this when I was the protagonist Mia's age, and since the book and movie series became so popular, I recently decided to take a trip back to childhood and finally read this book. It was a quick read, thankfully, but I didn't find it nearly as endearing as the movie version (which is substantially different from the novel). The book seemed awfully light on plot and substance. Character development was minimal, and as a result, most of the characters (including Mia) we...more

18 likes · like · see review

Apr 14, 2008 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-juv

I read the first 3 books in the series yesterday and I can't decide if I think they are clever and funny or obnoxious and pretentious. Maybe you will have a different opinion. I didn't relate much to Mia; everything she stands for annoys the heck out of stuff I stand for. But she is still kinda funny anyway.

9 likes · like · see review

Apr 28, 2011 Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

~The Princess Diaries~ By: Meg Cabot
Mia Thermopolis thinks there is nothing worse than being an unpopular, flat-chested freshman, living in New York City with her single mother. Boy, is she off...
First her mom annouces that she's dating Mia's Algebra teacher,who's class Mia is failing. Then her European father annouces that he's the prince of a small country, called Genovia, and that she is not just Mia Thermopolis, but Amelia Migonette Grimaldi Thermoplis Renaldo, princess of Genovia! No jo...more

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Jul 31, 2008 Namratha Kumar rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Sheel Mehta

Shelves: ya-lit, books-i-love-gollum-style

Meet Mia Thermopolis. 14 years. Frustrated with teen-life and its innumerable woes. Namely:
1> She has feet like skis, is the tallest girl in her class and is flatter than a surf-board.
2> Her mouse-brown/dishwater-blonde hair is “triangular” in shape and has a rampant life of it’s own.
3> She is a child out of wedlock and is being brought up by her mother, the scatter-brained, avant-garde artist Helen Thermapolis. Who by-the-way is dating her algebra professor, Mr.G.
4> She regularly ge...more Meet Mia Thermopolis. 14 years. Frustrated with teen-life and its innumerable woes. Namely:
1> She has feet like skis, is the tallest girl in her class and is flatter than a surf-board.
2> Her mouse-brown/dishwater-blonde hair is “triangular” in shape and has a rampant life of it’s own.
3> She is a child out of wedlock and is being brought up by her mother, the scatter-brained, avant-garde artist Helen Thermapolis. Who by-the-way is dating her algebra professor, Mr.G.
4> She regularly gets picked on by her school nemesis, the predictably pretty but obnoxious cheerleader, Lana Weinberger
5> She has an unrequited crush on the most popular senior in class, Josh Richter.
6> Her best friend, Lilly Moscovitz has an IQ of 170, is opinionated, a radical speaker and loves to psychoanalyze Mia at every given opportunity.
7> Lilly's brother, the cool and nonchalant Michael Moscovitz would make the perfect boyfriend....if he would only stop thinking of Mia as his kid sister's best friend.

And if that carpet-bombing wasn’t enough, she wakes up to a startling discovery. She isn’t plain old Mia Thermapolis. She is in fact Her Royal Highness, Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldi, Crown Princess of Genovia.

Yep, that’s right, a true-blue Princess! A “small” fact that her father (the current ruler of Genovia) would have gladly kept hidden. However, Mia’s dad has had testicular cancer which rendered him infertile, which is why Mia, an illegitimate child, is heir to the throne.

So while finding out that you are a princess sounds like every girl's dream come true…for Mia it’s just another can of worms that she has to deal with. And guiding her through would be the grandmother-from-hell, Clarisse Marie Grimaldi Renaldo, the Dowager Princess of Genovia.

Suddenly Mia has to deal with Princess Lessons and everything thing else that being royalty entails. So say hello to drastic make-overs, unwanted paparazzi and gold-diggers galore.

Written in a series of journal entries, the book is hilarious and at times even drop-dead funny. Mia’s hyperactive approach to life and it’s vagaries is captured perfectly by the supremely talented Meg Cabot.

A book which should have been around, when I was going through my own personal blend of heaven and hell in college.....The Princess Diaries is sort of like a fun talisman that every teenage girl should own, read and commiserate with. (less)

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Jan 21, 2008 Julia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a great book! I just started reading because I saw the movie, but this book is fantastic! It is a diary of a 14-year-old girl named Mia in New York City who thinks she is complete freak and invisible. She is given a hard time at school and even from her closest friend. But one day her dad takes her out to eat and tells her she is heir to the royal throne of a made-up, tiny European country called Genovia. Her life then takes off when everyone starts treating her different even though she...more

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Nov 14, 2010 Abby Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, blogged

Anne Hathaway does a MARVELOUS job narrating this audiobook. Seriously, she had me laughing out loud. It's a funny story to begin with - Mia's trials and tribulations when, at 14, she finds out she's the princess of a wealthy European nation called Genovia. Mia's a relatable and hilariously flawed character with a great heart. Anne Hathaway's reading adds to the humor and gives the listener a great connection with the story. Highly recommended.

Full review on my blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian ...more

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Apr 07, 2009 Sophie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a really good book to start off the series!

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2011 El Templo de las Mil Puertas added it

Shelves: 10-eltemplo, que-no-leerás-en-español

"Mia cree que su vida no puede ir peor: es altísima, plana, va a la clase de los novatos, suspende álgebra, su madre sale con su profesor… y ahora, además, tiene que escribir un diario porque se supone que necesita desahogarse de algún modo y contar sus sentimientos. Mala suerte para ella, que cree que escribir un diario la hace aún más pringada, pero buena para nosotros, que podemos leerlo y reírnos de su peculiar modo de ver la vida. Lo cierto es que Mia parece tener una imaginación hiperactiv...more

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Mar 19, 2009 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

O.k., this review is about Meg Cabot's books more than it is about The Princess Diaries. I just listened to The Princess Diaries on a road trip and thought it was way funnier than the movie (it was read by Anne Hathaway who did an awesome job). I've also been reading a few other Meg Cabot books over the last few months and I think she has a tallent for writing for teens and for making her characters say and do pretty funny things. But, I have big issues how many of her main characters seem to ha...more

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Feb 26, 2009 Chelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read_2009

I admit it, I saw the movie first. And I'm a fan. I like Anne Hathaway and I'm a sucker for Julie Andrews (she's just fabulous). It's a great little feel good movie that I watch whenever I catch it. That being said it did throw me for a little loop when I started reading the book. There are subtle changes, which are to be expected with location costs and such.

Mia is a great character. She's smart and witty and doesn't really realize she's smart and witty. She's also compassionate and has integr...more

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Jun 03, 2013 Sandy Wang rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is about Mia Thermopolis who found out she's a princess because her father is the prince of Genovia. She is also the heir to the throne because her father can not have anymore children due to his cancer. Every girls' dream is to wake up one day and find out their a princess but for Mia, this did not make her reality any better. Mia's school life is not any better than her personal life. She is failing algebra and she likes the most popular guy who don't even know she exist. Fortunately...more

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May 04, 2013 Ivy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: english-356

I really like this book. I read it while I was in middle school, and enjoyed it then, but I had forgotten a lot about it since. The story (if you don't already know) is about a girl suddenly finding out she's a princess, and her endeavors to find ways to hide it from her peers and accept it in herself. Her relationships with those around her and how she responds to changes in her life is interesting to look at - she's an average freshman girl, struggling with algebra, crushing on the cute senior...more

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May 04, 2013 Johnathan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: eng-356

I had seen the movie so I figured that I had a good idea of what the story was about but this was something I wasn't expecting.

The book was different from the movie. Mia, the main character, wasn't as dorky and foolish as I had seen her in the movie. She was a better person in the book then she was in the movie and the best friend was nowhere near as obnoxious as she was in the movie.She was still into her television show like in the movie, and her brother was a lot cooler in this then the movie...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Rachel Burke rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Princess Diaries is a contemporary realistic fiction novel. It is recommended for teenagers that are fourteen and up. I gave this book 5 stars because of how great the story is. It combines what could happen, and what so many girls want to happen to them. Girls are told they are princesses by their parents from a very young age. Well this book not only agrees with this concept, but it takes it one step further. A dorky high school teenager finds out her deceased father was a ruler of a count...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Megan Revette added it · review of another edition

I love Meg Cabot books just because they're so girly and relatable and cute :-) This one was kind of corny, they all kind of are actually but I love it. I'm in love with love stories and stories about love and romance and flirting and this is totally one of those books. It doesn't feel like you're reading a book, it feels more like you're going through a girl's secret diary that you found under her pillow, unlocked and went through. It's so fun, so many parts just make me laugh because she's sos...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Karen Song rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although I watched the movie "The Princess Diaries" ages ago, I never got the chance to read the book until recently. I didn't expect myself to be amazed with the story because I watched the movie several times and I knew how the plot progressed. However, I was very wrong. The book had completely different conflicts and spontaneous events that made it super fun to read without any spoilers from watching the movie. The story began as any young adult novel would, a typical girl trying to survive h...more Although I watched the movie "The Princess Diaries" ages ago, I never got the chance to read the book until recently. I didn't expect myself to be amazed with the story because I watched the movie several times and I knew how the plot progressed. However, I was very wrong. The book had completely different conflicts and spontaneous events that made it super fun to read without any spoilers from watching the movie. The story began as any young adult novel would, a typical girl trying to survive high school. Mia Thermopolis was just an average teenager living with her artist Mom in New York. She wasn't the prettiest or the most popular in her school. There was nothing especially interesting about her and she always went unnoticed - until a small family secret was revealed. Out of nowhere Mia discovered that her Dad was the prince of Genovia... and she was the only heir to the throne. This meant she had to stop being awkward Mia and start acting like Princess Mia! I enjoyed reading from this point on because it was very exciting to see her get an appearance AND personality makeover. She instantly went from being frizzy-haired and clumsy to staying classy and elegant. Of course at the end she didn't fly to Genovia and start ruling the land but throughout the novel she discovered her true self and eventually learned to express the new side of her with confidence. This book really showed me that even during the most unexpected moments in life, you have to stay true to who you are and not let society pressure you into changing. Mia Thermopolis was pressured into being someone she could never imagine herself as. And even though she didn't end up exactly how she started in the beginning of the book, she had a stronger understanding of who she was inside. I loved how the plot was very definite and the conflicts came up early on in the novel, allowing more time for character development throughout the story. However, I wish Meg Cabot had added more complex ideas to leave me with after reading because I felt like this was one of those books with a very simple plot and it didn't urge me to think more deeply about the events. I personally preferred the movie because it was more amusing and I expected even more detail out of the novel. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series and I've already purchased the sequel, "Princess in Spotlight". I strongly recommend this book to any girls who want to get a quick and fun read. This novel is fast paced and extremely hard to put down!(less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Ruth rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book prior to working through it with an 11 year old pupil. The cover and blurb led me to believe that it was innocent and suitable. I was a bit shocked to discover references to sex and perverts in a book that appears so innocent, pink and fluffy. However, it would be a good read for older teenagers as it raises very interesting questions about how and why we choose our friends and how to deal with some of the less pleasant characters in life. The "princess" doesn't want to be. She...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Betty Pajhuam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Betty Xiong

There was one book I have read called Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot. The genre of this book is drama. The genre is drama because the main character is really dramatic and a lot of love connections. The setting is in modern days and took place somewhere in England. The protagonist is Mia Thermopolis.

The main conflict was that her life totally changed when she found out that’s she was a princess. The conflict did keep the book exciting but there were a lot more other conflicts that she...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Kathleen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

Considering this is one of the rare cases where I saw the movie before reading the book, the book was not ruined for me. The two things, while having some similarities, really are quite different.
Things I enjoyed about the book:
I love that Mia drops Star Trek references.
I love that she stands up for herself, and knows when a line gets crossed. While she is not the strongest female character I've ever met, she is kind and exhibits responsibility. And while there is definitely a "ugly duckling" t...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Belldandy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who loves spunky, smart heroines

Shelves: ebook, library-book

Fun book, different from the movie (no surprise here, but had to be stated.) Mia Thermopolis discovers that she is actually Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia, a fact which her divorced parents had decided to keep from her as the chances she would actually have to ascend the throne were slim to none. Of course there are complications and now she must fill the role of princess, a role she never even knew could be waiting for her in the future. Being a teenager is...more

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Jan 17, 2013 ika rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: funny

i remember when i first read this book, i re-read it over and over. at first,i thought it was slow and boring. but when i read it for the second time, i understood more and thought it was really funny and hilarious. i wished my life is like mia's .she has a hilarious grandmother and a best friend who has IQ higher than Eistein.i could see the whole point of this novel is humor. it makes people laugh and crave for more humor after reading it. good thing the whole series has 10 books not including...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Shelver 506 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, ya-fiction, need-to-own

Originally posted at http://shelversanon.blogspot.com

Okay, time for another semi-embarrassing confession. I don't have a single Meg Cabot book on my shelf. I watched The Princess Diariesmovie and adored it (Anne Hathaway! Julie Andrews! That guy who plays Joe!), but the book? I tried to read it once but can only remember being mortified to the depth of my nerdy little soul at the mention of the dad's cancer-riddled testicles. (Yeah, the dad doesn't die in the books. Color me surprised.)

But a mon...more

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Dec 31, 2012 05kileyj rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The main problem in this book: 9th grader Mia Thermopolis is troubled after finding out that she is a princess. The setting in this book is New York City. The Protagonist is Mia, a dirty blonde who is pretty un-confident. The Antagonist in this book is Lana, a cheerleader who calls Mia a "freak".
In this book, Mia, a regular freshman at Albert Einstein High school, finds out from her dad that she is Princess of Ginovia. Un-like most girls who would love to be a princess, this news makes Mia ve...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Jaleebo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: teen girls

I loved this book! It seemed to have been truly written by fourteen year old Mia. Amilia would never view herself as a princess, not in a million years. She is five foot nine, flat chested, has grey eyes and her hair color is not even really a color; and is highly insecure with all of this(I always personally thought she sounded pretty, almost model like). Learning she is a princess is the worst thing she could ever imagine. How can a flat chested, vegan, combat boot wearing, boy-friend less, un...more I loved this book! It seemed to have been truly written by fourteen year old Mia. Amilia would never view herself as a princess, not in a million years. She is five foot nine, flat chested, has grey eyes and her hair color is not even really a color; and is highly insecure with all of this(I always personally thought she sounded pretty, almost model like). Learning she is a princess is the worst thing she could ever imagine. How can a flat chested, vegan, combat boot wearing, boy-friend less, unpopular princess survive; you may ask. Well, by writing every emotion she dare not share with anyone, in other words every, in her diary. The book is like a modern day fairy tail.

I really liked the parts of whimsy or humor. I love the list her and her friends make all throughout the book series.

"Lilly Moscovitz's List Of
Hottest Guys
(compiled during world civ with commentary by Mia Thermopolis)

1. Josh Richter(agree-six feet of unaltered hotness. Blond hair, often falling into his clear blue eyes, and that sweet, sleepy smile. Only drawback: he has bad taste to date Lana Weinberger)
2.Boris Pelkowski(strongly disagree. Just because he played his stupid violin in Carnegie Hall when he was twelve does not make him hot. Plus he tucks his school sweeter into his pants, instead of wearing it out like a normal person.)
3. Pierce Brosnan best James Bond ever(disagree-I liked Timothy Dalton better)
4. Daniel Day Lewis from The Last of the Mohicans(agree-stay alive, no matter what happens)
5. Prince William of England(duh)
6. Leonardo in Titanic(As if! That is so 1998)
7. Mr.Wheeton the new crew coach(hot, but taken. Seen opening door for Mademoiselle Klein)
8. That guy in that jeans ad on that giant billboard in times square(totally agree. Who IS that guy? They should give him his own TV series)
9. Dr. Quinn Medicine women's boyfriend.(what ever happened to that guy? He was so hot!)"

Very comical book. I would recommend to any teen girls who likes princess themed books, humorists romances, chick flicks, or just a good laugh. (less)

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Oct 21, 2012 Amanda Childs rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: engl-420-fall-2012

MEG CABOT CATEGORY
ROMANCE CATEGORY

Mia is just an ordinary freshman. She's got one best friend, who's rude to her sometimes, she's vegetarian, she's smitten by Josh, the most popular boy at school, and she's flunking algebra. So when Mia's dad reveals that she's the princess of Genovia, she shocked, and horrified. Things only get worse when her grandma insists she do princess lessons everyday, and the media gets a hold of her princess identity, making school a nightmare. Soon she's escorted to cl...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Annie Fyfe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, princess, girls, high-school, grandma

I listened to the audio version of this book. Mia is your average awkward high schooler, with a couple close friends who are just as quirky and a crush on a boy who probably doesn’t know her name. Then she finds out she is the only heir to the Genovian crown, and her life is immediately changed. This was a quick and easy fun listening experience. Some of it is a little hard to grasp since most of it comes straight out of Mia’s journal, which might be better to read than to listen to. But I still...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This series is not particularly well-written, and sometimes Mia just INFURIATES me with her obliviousness, but reading them just puts me in a good mood. First of all, I love the characters. Mia's grandmother (or Grandmere), the dowager princess of Genovia, is fucking batshit insane. She's constantly getting plastic surgery, she shaves off her eyebrows and draws them back on, and she has a poodle that eats its own fur and has digestion problems. Mia's father, the prince of Genovia, is a total wom...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Raelynn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: spring-summer-reading-list-2012

**This review was originally posted at life-ducks.blogspot.com**

Surely, we've all seen the two Disney Princess Diaries movies starring Anne Hathaway, yes? I love these movies, and pretty much anything starring Anne Hathaway, so at my best friend's insisting, I decided to read the first book in the series by Meg Cabot. Man, was I in for a surprise? My best friend had told me that the movies and books were different, but I hadn't foreseen another Ella Enchanted (yes, another Anne Hathaway movie) s...more **This review was originally posted at life-ducks.blogspot.com**

Surely, we've all seen the two Disney Princess Diaries movies starring Anne Hathaway, yes? I love these movies, and pretty much anything starring Anne Hathaway, so at my best friend's insisting, I decided to read the first book in the series by Meg Cabot. Man, was I in for a surprise? My best friend had told me that the movies and books were different, but I hadn't foreseen another Ella Enchanted (yes, another Anne Hathaway movie) style adaption, that is to say that the books and movies happen to have the same name and a few similarities.
As much as I love the movies, I also loved this book.

As always, I'll begin with a kind of "who-would-love-this" section. This book is really, obviously, aimed for the teenage, female population, as most of Meg Cabot's YA books are. Honestly, I think anyone who likes the books about the life of off-beat girls would enjoy this one. I would, personally, classify this as a YA Chick-Lit book. Despite the fact that I mostly dislike Chick-Lit, I love YA and really enjoyed this book. I really like the character of Tina (removed from the movie) and I hope to see much more of her throughout the rest of the series. I also really liked Grandmere, even though she's kinda horrible. One character I really dislike, not as a character but as a person, is Lily. I kind of like that the character exists, but I dislike her as a person.

If you didn't already know this, Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries is a book about a young girl named Mia. It is her diary as she goes through her life of mediocrity. She goes to a private school in New York (Not San Francisco), has a cat names Louis, a best friend named Lily, and a mom who is dating her teacher. She also has a dad who is a diplomat in a small principality called Genovia. Here's the kicker, not too far into the book Mia's dad finds out that he will have no more children and he now has to tell Mia she will inherit the throne of Genova, because by diplomat he meant Prince. The rest of the book follows Mia's understanding and experiences as she discovers her heritage, the world discovers her secret, friends betray her, and her Grandmere tortures her with "Princess Lessons."

As I said before, I really enjoyed this book. I liked coming into it having seen the movie and knowing the story, then having everything I thought I knew turned on its head. I like Mia's outlook on things and her writing is certainly, I think, true to a 15 year old's journal. I really enjoyed reading it and thinking back to being 15, thought I'm not a princess, and remembering the horrors of being 15 and imaging placing being a princess on top of that! I also really liked how she reacted to the news in the book verses in the movie. It's hard to explain without spoiling the differences, but if you've read it, you know what I'm talking about.(less)

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Jun 23, 2012 Jestine Jennica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childhood-reads

Freshman, five-foot-nine and flat-chested: that's Mia Thermapolis.

New York living with her artisan mother and her cat, Fat Louie who has sock digestive tendencies, fourteen-year-old Mia is your typical teen. Only she is completely flunking Algebra while her mom dates her teacher. Her bestfriend Lily hates her and she's the only one in Albert Einstein High School who hadn't been asked out for once.

When her life could not get any more pathetic came the life-defining news: she is only heir to the t...more

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Which Princess Diaries book is your favorite?	12	29	May 13, 2013 03:14pm
MY CURRENT BOOK ADDICTION	62	112	Apr 07, 2013 06:37am
Princess Diaries	44	90	Oct 15, 2012 03:10pm

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About Meg Cabot

Librarian note: AKA Jenny Carroll (1-800-Where-R-You series), AKA Patricia Cabot (historical romance novels).

Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flun...more Librarian note: AKA Jenny Carroll (1-800-Where-R-You series), AKA Patricia Cabot (historical romance novels).

Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.

She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.

Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.

Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.

Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
(less)

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Books by Meg Cabot

All-American Girl (All-American Girl, #1)

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Trivia About The Princess Diaries

26 trivia questions
12 quizzes

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Quotes from The Princess Diaries

“Lilly says I have an overactive imagination and a pathological need to invent drama in my life.” — 146 people liked it

“Needless to say, the fact that he actually spoke to me at all practically caused me to pass out. And then the fact that he was actually saying something that sounded like it might be a prelude to asking me out - well, I nearly threw up. I mean it. I felt really sick, but in a good way.” — 134 people liked it

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The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries #1)

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