Royal Wedding (The Princess Diaries #11)

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which 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 center, 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?

PROS

I loved the experience of reading this. There were literally some points during my reading that I was grinning so hard, I was getting a face cramp. And I couldn't help but literally laugh out loud a few times. I was really happy to be back in this world especially since I've grown up since the last book and so have they.

I was thrown off by the baby story line. Usually I can see twists like this from a mile away before we are even given the first hint. But not this time. Not to mention that Mia is pregnant with twins!

And the vague mentions of Mia and Michael's adventurous sex life, anyone?

The introduction of Mia's biracial half-sister, Olivia Grace! Apparently, right around the time Mia found out she was a princess, her unlucky in love dad fell in love with this black woman whose occupation has something to do with planes. Apparently they are "hot and heavy for a while" until she ended things because she (like Mia's mom) didn't want to be a princess. Then she, sadly, died and Olivia grew up Harry Potter/A Cinderella Story style with her aunt and family stealing her child support money all for themselves. So when Mia finds out about her, she (of course) decides she has to help her some how... which results in the whole world discovering Prince Philippe's second love child. 

I loved Olivia's interactions and different reactions to the same situation Mia found herself in all those years ago in the first book. Olivia was so interesting, she helped solve (a little conveniently, might I add) 

(Who I picture Olivia Grace to look like.)

And Mia's parents got back together! Which was kind of random although you could tell because everybody and they mama was hinting at it. Turns out Prince Philippe wouldn't be acting half his age and whatnot if he could find a woman worth his time to settle down with him. However, who wants to marry a prince who still lives with his mom?

No one, that's who. Not Olivia Grace's mom and not Mia's either which is what Mia tells him. So he decides to separate from Grandmere, give up his Genovian political position and he and Mia's mom decide to get married and take Olivia Grace and Rocky and raise their blended family in a Genovian palace.

CONS

Michael and Mia's relationship seemed a little too perfect in the novel. Not only did they never argue once (even over something small and insignificant) but there was no mentions of previous fights either. That seemed too unrealistic as two grown adults especially who are about to get married and have kids. 

I wish we had a lot more of in-person interactions with all the people of old. There were only a small amount of scenes with Lilly and Tina and the rest of their interactions (not excluding Lana and Trisha and others) were limited to text messages or through other people. Not to mention one of the interactions I was most looking forward to was Rocky and Mia. Sadly I was limited to only one and he barely spoke more than five times.

Boris apparently became a famous pop star with groupies and everything. So he and Tina broke up once this blogger releases pictures after she and Boris have slept together. Tina believes he cheated on her (but conveniently HAS NEVER SEEN THE PICTURES) although Boris has claimed that they were photo-shopped. 

Mia, however, has seen the pictures and there's a part of Boris she recognizes that can't be photo-shopped so she doesn't believe him, although Michael does. Ironically, Micheal even brings up how people lie about her in the press all the time, but she still doesn't doubt the truth. This subplot seemed highly unrealistic/unconvincing to me. I felt like Boris and Tina were just broken up so they could happily get back together in the end. Which did happen.

Mia tells us in the beginning of this book that she has this internet stalker. He talks about how she is lame and a feminist and a ho and a slut and the downfall of her country with her feminist wiles. Turns out that he's her loser ex-boyfriend, J.P. who is probably all butt-hurt that she dumped him for Michael and Michael is gonna be a prince and (according to the tabloids) is the world's greatest lover) and Mia hasn't looked back ever since. 

Anyway, conveniently, Michael and J.P. get into a fight and somehow Michael gets to look at his phone and realizes that J.P. is Mia's evil internet stalker. We don't learn this til (essentially) the epilogue of the book. We also learn that somehow J.P. has been exiled to some foreign country and that's the anti-climatic end of that.

MIA IS FOR GMO's?!?!! I felt so betrayed! Mia, how could you? I don't care how much drought resistant orange crops your GMO seeds can create, GMO's are always bad no matter what in the long term! I was soooo shocked that Mia would be for something that is so humans fucking around with Nature. 

The ending felt rushed. Like super rushed. One chapter, Mia and Michael are telling Mia's parents that they are pregnant (side note: I did read one review where the reviewer felt like Mr. G was only killed off to force Mia's parents to get back together. I can kind of see that.) and in the next we get a Jane-Eyre-esque (literally) ending where Mia is all, "Reader, I married him." 

So even though the book is CALLED Royal Wedding we don't get to see any of the wedding scenes. 

• The dress Mia settles on (since she is now pregnant), 
• if she publicly releases her pregnancy or not at this time, 
• bonding with her sister, 
• her bachelorette party, if and what her something old/new/borrowed/blue are or any of that stuff. 

I was extremely disappointed about that. 

Anyway, I enjoy the experience of reading this book although I did have some issues with some parts. Don't let my review fool you, I loved a majority of it until the rushed ending. Anyway, don't take my world for it; go enjoy it for yourself! 

The Secrets of Lily Graves

With the intrigue of Pretty Little Liars and plenty of romance, bestselling author Sarah Strohmeyer weaves a story of secrets and lies—set in a funeral parlor. Growing up in a house of female morticians, Lily Graves knows all about buried secrets. She knows that perfect senior-class president Erin Donohue isn’t what she seems. She knows why Erin’s ex-boyfriend, hot football player Matt Houser, broke up with her. And she also knows that, even though she says she and Matt are just friends, there is something brewing between them—something Erin definitely did not like. But secrets, even ones that are long buried, have a way of returning to haunt their keeper. So when Erin is found dead the day after attacking Lily in a jealous rage, Lily's and Matt’s safe little lives, and the lives of everyone in their town of Potsdam, begin to unravel. And their relationship—which grew from innocent after-school tutoring sessions to late-night clandestine rendezvous—makes them both suspects. As her world crumbles around her, Lily must figure out the difference between truth and deception, genuine love and a web of lies. And she must do it quickly, before the killer claims another victim.

Whoever named this book needs to get fired.

Because The Secrets of Lily Graves? This girl ain't got no secrets! Not even one! Instead it was the people around her with the secrets!

The novel opens with Lily working in a graveyard when this crazy girl rolls up and is all,
"OMG! You stole my boyfriend!" and Lily (and the reader) is all, "What?"

Because if Lily doesn't know what she's talking about neither do we! So they get into a little fight before the crazy girl takes off.

It's not until after the fight we learn that the boyfriend (or now ex-boyfriend who's name is Matt) and Lily are not platonic friends like she was making it seem. Instead we have a little bit of emotional cheating going on. While Matt is with the Crazy Girl, he gets tutored and sends his afterhours all up in Lily's DM's when he should be with his girlfriend.

She's sat in his lap, there's some sexual tension but no actual physical touching. So I don't know why Lily was acting like she didn't know Matt was into her when she so knows.

Anyway, the next thing we know Lily's parents are telling her Crazy Girl Erin is dead. Not her parents I mean. Her mom and her mom's boyfriend, the town's chief of police.

There's two reason Lily knows this before anyone else in town.

1. See above about maternal boyfriend's career choice
2. Lily's mom and fam run this funeral home in their small town.

She's all in love with death and the color black and wants to go into this exact same career choice when she's older.

All I can think of is the smell those frogs you dissect in school smell like thinking about this, We don't learn if she has a particular reason of why she's in love with all-things-death, just that she is. So she wears black and lace all the time and people don't fuck with her.

Except Sara.

Sara is her best friend.

I remember wondering about Sara's parents but initially decided not to look at them because they seemed to be too wrapped in their religion (sometimes those are the worst ones) and...actually that may have been the only reason. The whole Erin interning at their place of work just seemed a little suspect to me but I should've stayed with that line of thinking.

But I shouldn't have. It turns out that Sara's dad and Erin were messing around. Then if I remember correctly either she gets pregnant and/or threatens to tell everyone so he kills her.

And not only does Sara know this but her mom does too. So when Lily Graves discovers this, her best friend and fam try to kill her.

Of course she doesn't die, the bad guys are arrested and she and stupid-boy live happily ever after.

The boring end.

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids (Sarah Ockler)

The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can’t sing. She can’t even speak. Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse’s home in the Caribbean isn’t: An ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry—except for one. Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.  When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove’s high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn’t the only thing making waves, though—swept up in Christian’s seductive tide and entranced by the Cove’s charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn’t what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them . . .

A woman-of-color as a YA protagonist!

And-no white washing the cover!

A book about a black girl in a retelling of the Little Mermaid!

No shade, but I feel like white girls take for granted all the novels that have girls that look like them on them. Trying to find YA books that feature girls of color (without focusing on their color too) is sooo rare. So when I saw this book I was too excited. I couldn't wait for it and hoped I wouldn't be disappointed. And I was not!

This book takes the Little Mermaid (Disney and otherwise) and turns the tale on its head. Nothing is what you would expect it to be.




Ursula is a loving aunt here, Vanessa isn't trying to steal the Mermaid's man, she's all good on him! Sebastian isn't a crab but the prince's brother who is obsessed with mermaids. Like I said before, the tale of the Little Mermaid is twisted. One huge way is that it's the mermaid that is somewhat evil not Ursula. 

The book stays pretty close to the movie and legend. Elyse, the "mermaid" has six sisters she's close too, she loves singing and she's actually from Trinidad! But she fell off a boat and when her sister and her boyfriend pulled her up, she wasn't breathing. Trying to save her life, her sister cut a hole in her throat but in the process severely damaged her vocal cords and there was nothing surgery could do to get them back.
That's when she moves to Atargais Cove with her aunt Ursula and her cousin . The story weaves in and out of reality and fantasy. Ursula is a witch of sorts here, there is the mermaid Atargonis who is stalking Elyse. Other than that, the story is very grounded in reality.
Now the prince: a man-whore named Christian Kane who I liked but didn't love or hate. I wasn't entirely convinced of why he starts treating Elyse differently then other girls. One of my favorite, fresh features of this series was that even though our first glimpse of Vanessa is something along the lines of this:

She's not a rival for Christian's affections, not the mean-girl troupe you would expect her to be. Not only was she a behind the scenes champion for Christian and Elyse's relationship, she and Elyse are friends.
Christian gets roped into a racing contest for the fate of Atargatis Cove. His jackass of a father and the sexist (but not racist as the story makes a point to point out) mayor make a beat about this Pirate's sailing race the cove has every year. To keep this little seaside town quaint and not a tourist trap, Christian has to win. He'll even get his best friends (the mayor's sons) boat as a prize. Unwilling to go back home, Elyse finds the motivation to try and fight her fear of the sea and becomes his first mate.

This brings the two of them together, brings Sebastian who (unlike the blurb suggests) thinks Elyse is the legendary mermaid Atargatis but only brings it up twice, and wants to participate in the Cove's mermaid parade which is traditionally only for girls. But Elyse finds a way to sneak him in to his father and the mayor's anger/annoyance.

Next is the Pirate's Regatta.

Unfortunately, Elyse has a freak out during the race that causes them to be second place. And the bet was strategically made that even though the mayor's son lost to, the point was Christian lost. This is when the story officially meets its climax. After a night of sex on the boat, Elyse gives herself to the sea and fights for her voice realizing that losing your physical voice isn't the only way you can lose yourself or your voice. And the mermaid really isn't evil like we believed she was.

Anyways, this book stands out in so many ways past just diversity. 

There's sex, there's masturbation, there's a young boy who crosses social ideas of gender norms and a girl who embraces her sexuality without slut-shaming.

I also felt like Elyse's heritage was wonderfully explored. We hear about her culture, her family's economic and social status as well as her racial heritage. I really felt like the author properly explored and researched Elyse's Trinidad heritage and I really believed that this girl was a girl of color.

Anyways, can we pleassseee have more books with girls of color like this? Please, oh book gods, please??

Although one con: (aka the whitest line ever) "It's not a race thing."

Other than that: read this book!