Amazon UK
Title: Royal Wedding
Author: Meg Cabot
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication Date: 2nd July 2015
Rating: 4 Stars
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| Amazon UK |
From Meg Cabot, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first New Adult instalment, featuring the now grown-up Princess Mia!
Royal Wedding follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding - but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.
For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community centre, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements, Mia's gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn't need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.
But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother's leaked "fake" wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone - especially herself - that she's not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?
I suspect as someone new to the series/franchise this is definitely readable as a standalone, it definitely works as a sequel, but if like me you have only seen the films, it will take some time to get into the rhythm of the book.
However once I got into the swing of the book, I was able to put aside the confusion and enjoy Royal Wedding for what it is, a very entertaining addition to this much loved series. And once I relaxed into the story, and stopped over thinking everything, I found I didn't want to put it down, and was very keen to read all of it to find out what happens. This is especially true once some of the most hidden secrets of the Renaldi family come out.
I love a story that has many revelations throughout the book, some were considerably more shocking than others, but Mia deals with each and every one as a young princess should. Or at least how a young person who feels passionately about something may react.. action first, think it through fully later.
There is a new young character who becomes featured in the book who is wise beyond her years, and an absolute delight, although the cynical side of me does wonder if she has been introduced purely so that Meg Cabot can create a new spin off series (not that I could blame her if that is the master plan!)
One of my favourite bits was the setting where Michael proposes to Mia, such a romantic location, one that if my future fiancee happens to be reading this, I would love replicated! Michael is such a sweetheart and I think he really is the perfect future Prince of Genovia.
I was marginally disappointed that almost all of the book was set in New York, and not Genovia itself, as I had been really looking forward to reading descriptions of the country I only know from the films.
Royal Wedding is a glorious read, and if you are a fan of the series, I don;t think you will be disappointed. If you are new, then take it as a standalone, very enjoyable and funny story about young love and the challenges facing a young 21st Century princess.
Thank you so much Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. This was my honest review.
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