Party Princess

As I’ve been hinting through my reread of the series, I am not a fan of book seven. While the last three books have been filler, it’s most apparent in this. The only purpose it serves is to set up a love triangle between Michael and JP (aka “The Corn-in-the-Chili boy”) for the next three books. There didn’t even need to be a love triangle; we can already see there’s problems in Mia and Michael’s relationship. She’s insecure about Michael being around more sophisticated girls; Michael has his own issues with his parents’ relationship; not to mention, their lives are very busy, so they don’t spend as much time with each other. That could have been a very interesting read, and different from a good chunk of YA romances. show more Mia is extremely self-centered throughout this. She doesn’t make an attempt to figure out what’s wrong with her best friend, and doesn’t understand why Lilly’s rightfully angry with her over JP. The rest of the book—the student council budget and subsequent Grandmere scheme to save the day—is pointless. Grandmere’s plot to put on a musical for a charity benefit feels like a continuation of book six’s take that by shoving in as many pop culture names as possible. (Also, I find it really implausible that Bob Dylan would buy one of the World Islands*.) The only thing that I liked in the whole book is the hint that Lana is not an airhead cheerleader, which appears for all of two lines. I disliked this book when I first read it (and almost made me swear off the rest of the series), and I still like very little of it.


*If you've never heard of the World Islands, check out the Wiki pagehref>, it's a pretty fascinating study of decadence. show less

This broke away from the formula a little bit, Mia's major drama with Michael came to a head in the middle of the book, and Mia was not the centre of his universe - it turns out Michael has an emotional life other than just being Mia's boyfriend. And a new boy joins the lunch table.

I really hated Michael in this. He's so pushy about the whole sex thing. If Mia isn't ready (which she very obviously won't be for a while, how can he expect her to attach a date to when she will be ready? Lilly is equally obnoxious, though not nearly as much as usual. I love the 'addition' of JP and think he would be much better suited to Mia than Michael (who has nothing in common with Mia.

So, while this story explained a bit of Lilly's behavior, I don't think it excuses it. She's still really abrasive and downright mean to Mia.
That aside, I did love the book. The group of friends Mia has gains a new face. I love that Mia becomes braver and more accepting of people the more she matures in her role as princess. The relationship with Michael has a bit of a struggle again, but easily fixed in spite of Mia's overactive imagination. I enjoyed the fact that in her own twisted way, Grandmere was able to help Mia out of her school dilemma, even if it also helped herself out of her own dilemma. I'm excited to see what the next book has in store.

Another book done in the Princess Diaries series. These books are so easy to read and complete, the writing style is quirky and since they are diary entries, like I have mentioned before, they are not always full pages of reading.

In this installment, Mia has to use her problem solving skills to fix a broken student government, figure out why her boyfriend wants to have a party, and why her best friend and brother have been acting so strange. All the while dealing with more of her grandmother's crazy schemes.

There was a lot of growth for Mia here - learning about herself and how people get what they want. She questions her idea of self-actualization that she has been trying to achieve up until this point, and I think that she is show more starting to realize that she can be herself and accomplish things.

Like always the problems Mia faces in this book are both normal for a teen but also so over the top since she is a princess but it was funny and I am still enjoying these books. show less

Mia, now student body president, has to balance: her boyfriend (who she thinks wants a grown up party girl), her financially depleted student body, and her grandmother's shenanigans by starring in the musical her grandmother wrote. Once again, fun and funny, but must be in the state of mind for it. Oh, and Ms. Cabot would you please hook up Mia's father for the love of Pete?!

Its not my absolute favorite of the Princess Diaries books but I still really loved it. I thought that this installment was especially funny, especially the bits involving Mia's Grandmère.