Written by contributor Daphne Asir
If you were a preteen or teenager in the 2000s, chances are you already met PRINCESS AMELIA MIGNONETTE GRIMALDI THERMOPOLIS RENALDO in the pages of Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries. If you have, well, your life was awesome, but if you haven’t read the series yet, or perhaps want to reread it, then we have ten reasons why you should pick it up!
1. Relive The Good Old Days
Remember that time when you were in school, unpopular with weird hair, failing maths, and in love with that one person who didn’t know you existed? Well, here is a chance to live or relive that through Mia and you get to be a princess. Or, well, Mia gets to be a princess, but don’t worry, the book will pull you along immersing you in this experience.
Mia Thermopolis is pretty sure there’s nothing worse than being a five-foot-nine, flat-chested freshman, who also happens to be flunking Algebra. Is she ever in for a surprise! First, mom announces that she’s dating Mia’s Algebra teacher. Then Dad has to go and reveal that he is the crown prince of Genovia. And guess who still doesn’t have a date for the Cultural Diversity Dance?
And thus starts an epic journey!
2. It Is Hilarious!
It’s a funny and easy read, not to mention, utterly captivating.
“Lilly says I have an overactive imagination and a pathological need to invent drama in my life.”
Spoiler alert: Lilly is right! Mia tends to have a flair for the dramatic, which makes it all the more endearing and funny, mostly because you can completely relate! Besides, if you’re currently adulting, heaven knows you could use a little joy and laughter in your life.
3. Michael and Mia’s Relationship
Michael and Mia have to be one of the best couples of YA. She claims to be in love with him since first grade and you get to follow the relationship: the wonders of love, its highs and lows and maybe even learn a few lessons along the way. And my goodness, it doesn’t disappoint. Tall, dark-haired, brown-eyed Michael deserves a place in your heart once again. And you WILL fall for him, right alongside Mia!
In Mia’s own words: “I wish I could say when Michael’s dark eyes met mine, I was completely cool and collected about seeing him again after all this time, and that I laughed airily and said all the right things. I wish I could say after having pretty much single-handedly brought democracy to a country I happen to be a princess of, and written a four-hundred-page romance novel, and gotten into every college to which I applied (even if it’s just because I’m a princess), that I handled meeting Michael for the first time again after throwing my snowflake necklace in his face almost two years ago with total grace and aplomb. But I totally didn’t.”
Trust me, you wouldn’t be able to blame her for it.
4. Ransom My Heart
Mia also works on her novel, ‘Ransom My Heart’, and yes, she works on it for two years. It’s a pleasure to be a part of her artistic journey, which is, again, RELATABLE! Maybe she just might inspire you to get back to that thing you always wanted to do but never had the time…procrastinate much?
5. Spoiler Alert
It has a nice, satisfying , ‘once upon a time’…..’ happily ever after, fairy-tale ending. The final instalment ‘Royal Wedding’ follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they ride into their sunset. The royal wedding will leave you sighing and blushing all at once.
6. There’s Plenty of Books!
You won’t have to worry about the series being over after two books. The Princess Diaries series consists of ELEVEN volumes, perfect for that hibernation you didn’t know you needed. The books don’t disappoint and there is a reason for its bestselling status and all the high praise, not to mention, the numerous awards the series has bagged.
7. The Disney Adaptation
If you are done with the books, you can always check out the movie. The Princess Diaries, produced by Walt Disney Pictures starring Anne Hathaway was based on this series. Needless to say, the movie was a huge success. It was followed by the sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, which was released in 2004. The movies make for a great family watch. What’s more is that is vastly different from the book so you get to talk about how the book was different (or better) all through the movie. Is there anything we book nerds love more than that?
8. Three Novellas
If that was still not enough, here’s something you might have missed the last time you read it, there are three more books out: Princess Lessons: A Princess Diaries Book, Perfect Princess: A Princess Diaries Book, and Holiday Princess: A Princess Diaries Book. Granted it’s not the same, but it lets you spend a little more time in that wonderful world Meg Cabot created.
9. The Spin-Off Series
With this spin-off, you have one final chance to return to Genovia, only this time it’s through the illustrated diary of Princess Mia’s long-lost sister, Olivia. Released in August 2018, ‘From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess’ is another one of Meg Cabot’s Bestsellers.
Goodreads Synopsis: Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison is a completely average twelve-year-old: average height, average weight, average brown hair of average length, average brown skin and average hazel eyes. The only things about her that aren’t average are her name (too long and princess themed), her ability to draw animals (useful for her future career as a wildlife illustrator), the fact that she is a half-orphan who has never met her father and is forced to live with her aunt and uncle (who treat her almost like their own kids, so she doesn’t want to complain)…and that she’s a long-lost princess of Genovia.
Swept into a world of ponies, weddings, and family troubles, Olivia’s new life is not everything she expected it would be. But one thing is for certain: maybe Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison isn’t so average after all!
10…. And finally, it’s ‘THE PRINCESS DIARIES’, why wouldn’t you read it again?
