The Princess Diaries – New York’s Own Royal

This series is supposed to be meant for kids but I don’t give a damn, especially since last year I finally read Ella Enchanted and The Two Princesses of Bamarre which were given to me when I was a kid but I never got around to reading them.

I’ve been a fan of The Princess Diaries since I was little so I’m finally reading this series in chronological order! I had read volumes III, V, VII, and VIII in middle and high school but now I’m really starting at the beginning to take in the story.

Honestly, I burned through this one quicker than I thought. I think it’s because the chapters are not long and I am used to Meg Cabot’s writing style so I process things in the story faster than I would with any other book I’ve never read before.

This first volume is the one that the iconic film is based on and I already saw several similarities to it in this book, except the following: Mia and her mother live in New York (in the film they were in San Francisco), Mia’s dad is still alive, her grandmother is a dowager princess instead of a queen, and there are a few surname differences with the characters that aren’t in Mia’s family.

Of course, there are also bigger differences than that which I’ll get to in a moment.

The only thing Mia cares about at the moment is passing Algebra and graduating so she can join Greenpeace, she’s also a strict vegetarian and has a crush on a boy named Josh Ritcher who is dating her nemesis, Lana. I did not expect Mia to have some geeky traits like for instance, she seems to be into Star Trek, which she later shares that with Lilly’s brother Michael, and of course, she loves her cat Fat Louie more than anything.

I think her grandmother is more annoying in the books than in the film and definitely wouldn’t look like Julie Andrews if I tried to picture her from these books. She only wants to speak French and carries a hairless poodle with her everywhere. I don’t think I’d want to be around her all the time if I was learning to be a princess!

Speaking of which, Mia handled learning the truth about her heritage surprisingly well, aside from running away into the zoo for a bit, she tolerates the lessons at the Plaza hotel but still wishes she could have a normal life and things heat up when Lilly stops speaking to her after her makeover.

I also like Lars in this book, he started off as her driver to school but soon became her full-fledged bodyguard as soon as her story was leaked to the press. He does his job well but isn’t short of personality and bonds with the bodyguard of Tina Hakim Baba who comes from a rich family. I also liked Tina as well, she’s a very quiet type of girl who prefers to spend her time engrossed in a romance novel. I like to read romance novels on occasion so I can relate to her. She was there when Mia needed a friend and I liked that.

I was also pissed once I learned who it was who told the press about Mia’s true identity. Her dad claims she needs to get used to the swarming cameras but that doesn’t seem fair, everyone has a right to privacy don’t they? I also give kudos to anyone else who pictures Principal Gupta as she is played by Sandra Oh in the film! And yes, Lana got coned too.

I feel like this book ended on a cliffhanger after the incident at the dance with Josh (in the movie it was a beach party), yes there was the kiss he stole to get fame and he was a jerk overall but I know this is the beginning of Mia and Michael’s budding romance. I can feel it.

I loved this book and I can’t wait to read the next one.