I've been wanting to read this book forever and I finally got the chance to sit down and read it. I loved the fairy tale Cinderella twist. Plus you have to love a happy ending.Lucy has moved to Long Island from San Francisco, to live with her new step-mother and two step-sisters. While her father remains on the west coast working on a big case. Lucy isn't exactly enjoying living with her new "family" alone. She doesn't really have any friends at school, okay she doesn't have any friends, actually.Luckily for Lucy her knowledge for basketball helps her catch the attention of senior basketball superstar and hottie, Conner Pearson. Then suddenly everyone wants to be her friend. And even though it seems that her life is turning into a fairy tale at home everything is still difficult. Then to confuse matters even worse she finds her self connecting with the artistic Sam, and wishing her conversations with Conner had such substance,As her family issues start to resolve, Lucy finds her fairy tale taking on a whole new direction. Maybe her stepmother isn’t so wicked after all, and maybe her prince charming isn’t who she thought it would be.Any fan of Cinderella will love this book. It is an equal balance of romance, teen angst and real life. Some parts are a little unrealistic, such as the going from a zero to popularity princess in two seconds flat. But overall the story was light and enjoyable. ( )

A twist on the Cindrella story that is good fun. Lucy's father marries the "wicked stepmother" with twin girls. When Lucy makes new friends as a sophomore and lands the school catch basketball player Connor Pearson, it is like a fairy tale. Or is it?

Twists on the tale prove that maybe dreams that come true too easily aren't really the perfect dream.

This book was a random YA novel I picked up at the checkout at the grocery store because I liked the cover. Having never read any of Melissa Kantor's books, I wasn't sure what to expect. Lucy introduces herself to readers by making a list in class comparing herself to Cinderella. Both have dead mothers, wicked stepmothers, 2 evil stepsisters, and no friends.

The one notable difference is that Lucy's father is still alive, however, he works out of town so frequently that Lucy feels as if he has abandoned her all the same. Lucy's father has remarried and has moved Lucy from San Francisco to Long Island. Beginning her second semester in her second new school in two years, Lucy has mastered the art of being invisible. That is until Connor Pearson, the Prince of her new school takes notice of her. Instantly, Lucy has a new group of friends, a handsome, popular boyfriend, and plans every weekend. In all the commotion, Lucy realizes something is still missing...her. Struggling to find her true self and her true Prince Charming, Lucy battles with her new family and struggles with a self-portrait project in art class (no ironic symbolism here folks). :)

Lucy's unique mix of interest in sports and artistic abilities (not to mention her bright red hair) make her an interesting and likably different character from your typical female protagonists. Warning, contradiction to what I just said coming in 3...2...1: Reminiscent of Laurie Halse Anderson's Melinda Sordino in Speak, Lucy must draw on her her inner-strength to overcome the situation she has found herself in and to find the path that leads her to her true self (minus a Fairy Godmother).

Kantor gives Lucy a voice that most teens can relate to: frustrated with parents and siblings, desperate to fit in, and in serious need of love. ( )

This book was written in a very easy-to-relate, lighthearted way, highly reminiscent of everyone's favorite The Princess Diaries! The metaphors in this were extremely effective, and I'm really not one to say that lightly. When they were used, they were used in such a way so as not to be distractive, but to genuinely contribute to the writing. They don't seem forced in the slightest. The characters frustrated me for a while, and I was unable to see where they were coming from (particularly the basketball loving, popularity seeking main character), but soon, I did grow to tolerate them, some more than others. One thing I really loved about this book was that the main romantic interest was not incredibly obvious from the start. He was introduced subtly, although in the end, he seamlessly blends in to the rest of the story. Kantor not only breaks the cliches, she addresses them quite clearly before doing so, written in a very 'in your face' manner. I didn't like the title, and it wasn't actually the length of it that disturbed me--it was the fact that while, yes, she was looking for a prince, for the majority of the book, she was convinced she already had a 'prince' and the focus was more on the stepfamily than anything. Still, I loved it. I didn't agree with everything the characters said or did, but in the end, everything was adorably charming and thoroughly lovable.

Rating: 4.5/5 ( )

If Lucy Norton has two evil stepsisters and a wicked stepmother, where’s her prince? She keeps telling herself that her fairy tale will involve the popular Connor Pearson. Then she finds herself noticing, Connor Pearson knows who I am. Connor takes an interest in her and now everyone at Glen Lake knows her. Some even become her friend. With prom coming up, Lucy starts to realize … maybe Connor isn’t the one she wants, maybe it’s that quite boy in her art class. Trying to forget about Sam with one of Connor’s perfect kisses, Lucy finally knows. But can she still get a happy ending like Cinderella when her life is in pieces?

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince? is now one of my favorite books. Author Melissa Kantor’s understanding of the life of a teenage girl is brilliant and accurate in so many ways. The writing is more than just phenomenal, it’s … the best. The ending was predictable, but at the same time, surprising. The plot and characters were simple and developed throughout the story. Filled with humor and wonderful references, this book is on the top of my Recommendation List. If you’re 13 and want to read something fun or 30 and want to relax with a good read, pick up this book. I guarantee you’ll love it.

(If you find a copy of this book, make sure to look at page 178. It’s one of my favorites.) ( )