Lucy's life is fairytale-worthy: wicked stepmother, evil stepsisters, tons of chores. But one day (and without the help of a fairy godmother) she meets her prince and they ride off into the night in his SUV. Lucy soon discovers that the end of Cinderella's story may not have been what everyone thought.

This was a time-killer story. It was enough to keep my attention while I was reading it, but not much else. Alot of teen drinking. Surprisingly, no sex, just a lot of kissing and making out. I liked the art talk and the ending, but thats about it. ( )

I've read two Cinderella type stories this month & enjoyed both of them. There is something comforting about reading a familiar story with a modern twist. Love the story, hope the kids enjoy it too. ( )

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.) ( )

I thought this book was okay. It really wasn't that original. It's the same Cinderella concept I've heard a million times before. Luckily, I like these kinds of books. ( )

Having moved to New York with her father and new stepfamily, artist Lucy doesn't seem to fit in until the hottest guy at school notices her love of basketball and asks her out. Meanwhile, her stepmother and stepsiblings are of the evil variety while her mostly absent father seems to side with his new wife all the time.
I guiltily enjoyed this, even the over the top "poor little me" teenage angst. The happily ever after ending was a little abrupt though, particularly the improvement of her stepmother.

Everybody knows the story of Cinderella, a girl who lives with her wicked stepmother and two evil sisters but in the end lives happily ever after with Prince Charming. This story is a modern version of the famous Cinderella with a twist. Lucy Norton is playing “Cinderella” living with her wicked stepmother Maura and two bratty step sisters. Maura seems to do just about anything to make Lucy seem like the culprit in any situation in front of her father.

Now the ultimate question is “Where’s her prince?” Connor Pearson seems like the perfect candidate. He is the star basketball player, a “hottie”, and of course the most popular boy in school. Lucy Norton catches his attention and soon they are going out. Being the girlfriend of Connor Pearson has it perks like attending cool parties, new friends, and an invitation to the prom. But where does the talented and cute artist Sam Wolffe, fit into this picture?


I read this book because it was highly recommended by my friend. However, when I read it I wasn’t satisfied. It definitely had its funny moments and I really enjoyed reading about Lucy’s dress shopping. But it was really predictable at times and I felt that Lucy’s relationship with her love interest where not fully developed. The conclusion of the book was really predictable and too abrupt. If your looking for a fun and light read, then I would suggest picking this book up. ( )

Recently relocated to Long Island after her father's marriage (to the titular wicked stepmother), Lucy is connecting with every last bit of the Cinderella fairy tale. A quick lunchtime exchange brings her to the attention of popular senior Connor, and when Jessica and Madison become her well-dressed fairy godmothers, Lucy believes she has found her Prince Charming. After a series of adventures and misadventures, the action culminates in the prom, where Lucy finds her true "happily ever after."

This book is a charming, if somewhat predictable and formulaic, take on the high school experience. As heroines go, Lucy is sweet and likable, and believable as a high school sophomore, and I knew characters like her schoolmates in my own high school experience. At some points, I felt that the author was trying a little too hard to force the story to fit the Cinderella framework, but on the whole, the story was not negatively affected.

This book was a quick read, and a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. ( )

very good.a very diffrent twist of cindarellla. like one i have never read before. ( )

http://imaromancereader.blogspot.com/... ( )

This book contains just the right mixture of humor and emotion. It's a light read that can be enjoyed in one sitting. The main character struggles with issues common to today's teens including a crush, annoying siblings, and an unreasonable stepmother. The protagonist longs for private time with her lawyer father who spends most of his time out of town working on a big case.
This book tells the tale of a girl desperate to fit in but also trying to determine her own identity. She loves basketball and art, and these two hobbies ultimately unite her with the prince she longs for. ( )

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School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up-Teen readers will relate to "Cinderella" Lucy Norton's woes. Transplanted from San Francisco to Long Island because of the marriage of her father, who continues to spend working weeks on the West Coast, she grapples with a pseudo-family existence with her step-monster, Mara, and her magpie twin stepsisters. Lucy's dual passions of basketball and art characterize her and help her make connections. Negotiating that minefield of adolescence, the high school cafeteria, she often takes a sandwich to the art room, where she enjoys the kindness of her teacher and meets Sam, a talented but rude artist. An astute remark about basketball gains her the attentions of Connor, the team star and all-around hunk. With his notice come Jessica and Madison, as friends. Lucy enjoys her rapid ride on the social surf, featuring drinking parties, melt-away kisses, even the much-sought-after prom invite, but her home life is still difficult-her stepmother "is trying to win some kind of bitch-of-the-year award." To confuse matters, she feels an artistic connection with Sam, whose conversation and interests make Connor seem more ornamental than substantial. While savvy readers will anticipate Lucy's ultimate pairing and improved family relationships, most teens won't be disappointed in the pleasant confection of wit, teen angst, shopping, girl talk, and flirtation. Kantor caters well to the witty-romance, girl-power book market, supplying a worthy offering for many who might not read otherwise.-Suzanne Gordon, Richards Middle School, Lawrenceville, GA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. ( )

Lucy Norton is a new student with no friends, until she starts dating the most popular guy, he's captain of the basketball team (her all-time favorite sport), and he's super cute with tons of friends- whats not to love? But yet, somethings out of place, its still not the perfect fairytale ending lucy planned for. Wasn't the stepmother supposed to fall off a cliff or something? ( )

Predictable, but a fun light read. An interesting and optimistic take on popularity in high school.