yvo_about_books's review against another edition
2.0
Finished reading: August 30th 2023
“Maybe nobody has a right to tell anybody to shut up. Maybe this is how wars get started, because someone tells someone else to shut up, and then no one will apologize.”
WARNING: it's unpopular opinion time yet again!!
It's true that I don't read a lot of YA anymore, but I needed a book for the lost royalty prompt for the Beat The Backlist Bingo challenge and there weren't many options. Add the fact that I really enjoyed the movie back when it came out, and I ended up actually being quite excited to revisit these characters and read the original story. I sure didn't expect to come very close to DNFing instead! Whatever The Princess Diaries is, it is nothing like the movie adaptation. I don't say this often, but the movie is in this case WAY better than the book. I'm actually glad I never read the book as a teenager, because I don't think I would have watched the adaptation otherwise... Mia is just SO incredibly unlikeable in the book, and I started to hate her more and more with each chapter. The constant repetition, the whining, the complaining... It was just all way too much to be entertaining. I wasn't a fan of the writing style either, with the constant interruptions, random notes and math. I get that this is supposed to be a diary, but it just really disrupted the flow of the story. Nothing much was happening either; the book only covers part of the first movie, and not the most interesting part at that. The characters in general were rather dull and unlikeable, and I confess I only made it to the end because I started skimreading. I guess that it won't come as a surprise that I won't be continuing this series... I'll stick with the movie instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Racism, Bullying, Body shaming, and Cancer
nglidk's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Bullying
Moderate: Ableism and Sexual harassment
Minor: Stalking
r slursurefinewhatever_'s review against another edition
funny
3.0
There were certainly parts where this book has aged poorly, mostly, I was just surprised by how FUNNY Mia is! But dare I say, the movie is better!? (The movie IS better!!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Fatphobia and Stalking
izypup's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Toxic friendship, War, Cancer, Classism, Racism, Alcohol, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
cate_with_a_c's review against another edition
Very dated and really brain candy. These books are repeatedly transphobic in how they have to bring up the neighbor Ronny being a trans woman and don’t really try to add to her character even as a side character. They bring up she’s trans every time they mention her. Later in The series there’s a uncomfortable scenario where they keep thinking it’s funny to chant pull down your pants. When they can’t figure out if a classmate is a girl or a boy.
Throughout the series there’s also an uncomfortable dating age difference between Mia and her best friend’s brother who is a senior. It feels gross. I always felt that was weird and really wrong even when I was in high school, yeah it’s not a real story but still. Lily the best friend is racist against Asians and there is fatphobic comments throughout the series.
Throughout the series there’s also an uncomfortable dating age difference between Mia and her best friend’s brother who is a senior. It feels gross. I always felt that was weird and really wrong even when I was in high school, yeah it’s not a real story but still. Lily the best friend is racist against Asians and there is fatphobic comments throughout the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Racism
Moderate: Fatphobia
jasmineehare's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
I loved these books when I was younger, and while rereading it, I was pretty surprised to see the casual racism, ableism, transphobia etc. throughout. I guess it’s very indicative of the time that they were written, but I wouldn’t want to put it in the hands of a young person today. I still liked the plot and characters, but it was disappointing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Ableism, and Eating disorder
emmahe's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Cancer
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