My formidable teen years were spent with Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries books being a hot seller for middle grade and young adult girls. I wasn't fond of the series, though I did enjoy the first movie (and now enjoy the second movie only because Chris Pine is hot), but most of my friends (plus my sister) were all very interested. Let's face it no one does Princess stories like Disney and this start to the Princess for Hire series is no exception.

I related to Desi quite a bit, at least my old teen self did. I was that horribly awkward girl who kept trying even though humiliation was just around the corner. I danced to the beat of my own drummer, but wanted to fit in. If I had been given the chance to be a 'surrogate' Princess? Before Meredith had even finished her first sentence I'd be all over it.

Most fascinating for me was the different 'princesses' and their predicaments. From Desi's first probationary assignment (sadly I've been to places like that) to her last assignment Desi did it with a flair. Possibly the worst thing that Meredith could have told Desi was to 'follow her inner compass' to figure out situations she didn't feel prepared for. That directly leads to Desi deciding to do things her way and that in turn led to her breaking lord knows how many of their 'sacred traditions'.

The overall tone of the book is upbeat and positive, promoting that girls should be themselves and do things their way. Though Desi does inhabit at least one 'classically beautiful' princess, Leavitt pushes for the reader to understand that the princess' beauty is only a small component of who she is and doesn't necessarily make things easier for her.

At first I didn't realize this was to be a series, but as things began to wind down and loose ends abounded I did some digging (meaning I read the author blurb) and was relieved. I want to know what happens with Elsa (I have a feeling we shall be seeing her and Karl again), plus what happens with Meredith and if things ever smooth out between Celeste and Desi.

This is definitely more of a middle grade series however, then a young adult series. Everything is kept on a very PG, almost G level really. Also I can see this being made into a Disney Channel movie and/or series very, very easily. And though she doesn't match the character description (at all), Selena Gomez was narrating the book for me. ( )

What can I say?! I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to book 2. Why did I read such a young book... with 4 young girls of my own and installing the passion for books in them, I like to keep up with books that they can and will be reading in the future.

I LOVE the message of making an impact! And that the character was not perfect and didn't always make the 'perfect' decisions, but she did make a huge impact on her princesses and that with the confidence these princesses now have, will have a larger impact on the world.

Like I said before, I cannot wait to read book 2! ( )

I read this when I was probably around the main character's age - I remember finding it really silly but having a good time with it. I thought of it recently and managed to find it at the library, so I decided to give it a go. I still think that the premise is a lot of fun, and honestly I might go ahead and finish off the series at some point if I need some easy reading. Some things didn't hold up too well in this book, but it was still a lot of fun. ( )

Enjoyed this one soooo much! ( )

Desi Bascomb is a fifteen-year-old living in boring Sproutsville, Idaho and working at Pets Charming. Instead of playing with cute puppies or kittens all day, Desi dresses up in a groundhog costume to help promote the store. Her work look doesn't exactly help her social standing which has taken a tumble since a particularly interesting falling out with her ex-BFF Celeste (read to find out about it).

Desi's just hoping for something to make her life more like Audrey Hepburn movie when she spies an interesting ad in the newspaper. Suddenly there's someone else in her bathroom. Desi's relaxing bubble bath is less relaxing and more confusing when Meredith, her green haired godmother of sorts shows up with some news. Turns out Desi has an ability that--with a little help--allows her to be a substitute for princesses who need a little break.

Soon, Desi's filling in for royal girls around the world and finding out that there's more to it than the fancy dresses and glamour that she expected.


The first installment in Linsdey Leavitt's new series is a whole lot of fun. Desi is a great main character who really is like no other character I can think of--but also not so different that it's annoying or weird. She's a quirky girl who doesn't like being like everyone else or following all of the rules, but still worries about how her social life. She's very well developed and it's her unique traits that really make her able to be a main character that is temporarily pretending to be other characters. The same is true of Meredith, as well and I really look forward to learning more about them in future books.

While Princess for Hire is a book that could almost be read by middle grade readers (it reads easily like that and doesn't contain the language or sex that would be a problem) it also works extremely well for the target YA readers and even adult readers.

There were times when some of the princesses' lives seemed almost. . . simply imagined, but I think it actually worked the longer I thought about it. What Desi did each time and how things worked for her, etc seemed to be the focus and everything was written very well for that.

Princess for Hire was not a very complicated book but it was super, super fun and cute and it was also one I found myself thinking about after it was over--which I always find to be an indicator of a great book (at least when they're good thoughts which these were!).

I definitely can't wait for more of the Princess for Hire books or from Lindsey Leavitt.


9/10
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