Cover Image: The Quarantine Princess Diaries

The Quarantine Princess Diaries

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Over 20 years since we first got to know Mia Thermopolis - and she is now in her 30s, happily married, with twins, successfully ruling Genovia. Then a global pandemic hits, she is forced to close down borders and manage not just the crisis in her country, but in her home as well. I enjoyed this book mostly because of the nostalgia - I loved this series when I read it as a teenager, and it was fun to revisit the beloved characters all grown - in a pandemic setting, mind you. 😂 Meg Cabot accurately recounts all the craziness that was 2020 when COVID first hit. The entire world shutting down, the widespread panic, quarantine anxiety, social distancing, mask protocols, and protesters on top of all this - it was all too real 😂 Mia’s family is as dysfunctional as ever; her diary entries still chaotic and hilarious. It was a light-hearted, feel-good read; the ending was pretty cheesy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it overall.

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In March 2020, Meg Cabot shared 16 delightful diary entries from Princess Mia on her blog, calling them “Corona Princess Diaries.” These blog posts have since been expanded into a full-length novel in The Princess Diaries series.

I have been following Princess Mia since I was a pre-teen and have read every single book in this series. While I was excited to see a new novel in the series was being released, part of me wondered if I was ready to relive the early days of the pandemic. Let’s face it, we all remember it vividly while at the same time are trying to forget it, right? Luckily The Quarantine Princess is a light-hearted take on a very serious time in our collective history. Readers reunite with their old friend Mia while she tries to navigate her way through the same unknown territory we all were experiencing in 2020 – isolation, social distancing, taking care of her family, the covid 15, (maybe too much) wine, and not remembering what day it was. Granted, she was also worrying about the health and safety of an entire principality but somehow she still felt very relatable – and isn't that part of her charm?

Some things were a little over the top – can someone tell me how Rommel and Fat Louie are still alive? – but it’s nice to reunite with Lilly, and Tina, and even Lana (that’s right, the gang’s all here!). At times I was frustrated by how Mia still sounds like her sixteen year old self (I struggle with this in a lot of Cabot’s adult fiction; she tends to write characters who can come off sounding immature) but I like to think that Mia has grown up and the only reason she sounds the same is a testament to how well Cabot knows her princess. The Quarantine Princess is like visiting your best friend from childhood and ultimately that is a very comforting thing. A fun and quick read for grown-up fans of The Princess Diaries series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Avon Impulse for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Oh my gosh! I was thrilled, amazed, and so excited to go back to Genovia!

I've read every single Princess Diaries book. I read the blog. But to have it all in book form again? I can't even explain.

Anyways, this was a bright spot for me, during the early days. It was a fun glimpse into the life of Mia as a parent, as a monarch, wife... and of course granddaughter. Because what's a princess Diaries book with out Grandmere???

Only one complaint... I wanna go back!

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Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased interview.

While I've loved the Princess Diaries series so far, this one felt like a wreck.
Yes, life was chaotic for all of us in early 2020. Unfortunately, Mia sounds like she has regressed to her teens (and some of her friends, too, like Lana) when she should be a poised head of state. I'm disappointed because I thought Mia was mostly getting it together after her last novel and the Middle School Princess episodes. There's still plenty to laugh at--Grandmere's latest scheming and brother Rocky now is Prince Rocky.

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I was a bit disappointed by this book. I read the first few installments as Meg Cabot was writing them on her website but then it went for a while with no posting and I forgot about them. I love the Princess Diaries series and was glad that Cabot continued them into Mia's adulthood but Mia seems to have lost some of her charm and poise since the initial books and instead is drowning her sorrows in alcohol.

I feel I'm not explaining well. The pandemic has been hard on everyone. And Mia faces no challenges different than every other country did at the time with mask requirements and trying to keep people safe, all the while to have her subjects cry they are having their freedom impinged upon and it's their choice not to wear a mask, etc. etc. Maybe it was a little triggering for me because I was working with cancer patients at the time the pandemic hit and the terror of this unknown virus on top of their cancer was terrifying and made me so angry when people didn't want to protect others.

I think the pandemic is still too raw in some ways to read this book. Maybe in a few years it will be easier to read but I doubt it. I appreciated that Cabot did not shy away from all the stupidity of some of the populace of the pandemic and Mia's strong desire to do what's right. I think the other thing that bothered me is the fast development of the vaccine in the story given all the problems with the intranasal flu vaccine, stuff we have research on, but for the sake of fiction I'm glad it saved Genovia.

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Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Was happy to see that Meg released a new princess Mia book! This one takes place during the early stages of COVID and what it was like for her to rule Genovia. She experiences the backlash from the community and even her own family. The story line regarding her grandmother seemed a bit over the top, having her partying on yachts with college boys then bringing them into the castle for quarantine. Overall a fun quick read following our favorite princess!

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I’ll be honest, at first I thought…too soon. But then I started reading and fell back into enjoying hearing things from Mia’s perspective. It’s not too soon…and it seems royals handled lockdown pretty much the same way we all did…its of wine, desserts and comfy clothes! A fun and quick read!

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When I saw the cover of theThe Quarantine Princess Diaries I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book .. The cover is what kept my attention even though I wasn't sure if I wanted to read about a pandemic that we have lived. Was pleasantly surprised that enjoyed the read 4 stars


Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review

Happy Reading Lisa 📚

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I discovered The Princess Diaries as a young teen, and I loved the series. I was thrilled to be reunited with Mia in this book. I thought it was an interesting idea to write about real current events that Mia has to deal with. I loved it!

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Yay! I feel like I’m hugging an old friend I haven’t seen for a long time! Mia Thermopolis is back! Older, mature, a queen, mother of twins, trapped in Genovian Palace with the entire family in the middle of pandemic!

Queen Mia is under a lot of pressure, doing anything in her power to run the country, following the protocols by closing Genova borders, dealing with the angry protestors who want their business reopen immediately. There’s so much in her plate! The same genuine voice talks with us through the blog: her narration is honest, captivating!

There are many cameos of the characters we’ve known from the previous books make us cheerful! ( I’m not gonna give their names not to spoil full experience)

Overall: this is absolutely quick, fun, engaging read! It was amazing to return back to Mia’s universe! I’m always to read more books of the series! They’re extremely addictive!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

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5 ⭐️
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Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Avon Impulse for the e-ARC of this book! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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If Meg Cabot could just keep writing Princess Diaries books from now until forever, I STILL wouldn't be tired of reading about Mia's life! I'm a Genovia girl forever and this book is NO exception.

During the early months of the pandemic, Meg Cabot took to writing Mia's "Corona Princess Diaries" in blog posts on her website that followed what Princess (now Queen!) Mia would be doing to keep her small European country of Genovia safe from the global Covid pandemic. These blogs, which were simultaneously a great form of escapism to read while dealing with the real deal outside, took off in popularity online and have now been expanded into a full novel of Mia's diaries. Including the original blog posts (which have been updated quite a bit!) and lots of new follow-up material, readers are getting another story in a series that has lasted over 20 years. (And I hope it's not the last!)

While dealing with her family all cooped up in her palace, her husband Michael isolated in a guest room with a possible Covid exposure, and some very angry citizens who want their businesses to reopen whether it is safe or not (sound familiar?), Mia is under a lot of stress. And drinking a lot of wine. But that's just survival instinct in a time of panic, right? We get to see Queen Mia (who is now a mother of twins!) trying to run her country and follow the science like any good leader should. Closing the Genovian borders and requiring masks is all common sense when the entire country is holding still at just one Covid case! But with some familiar faces popping back up and pressure from protesters at her gate everyday, Mia has not only the weight of the country on her shoulders, but possibly the whole world some days. We get to follow along for several months of updates as Mia experiences the ups and downs of leading a country in a time of such uncertainty.

I'll level with you - when I saw Meg's blog with the first few entires of this story in March 2020, I SQUEALED with glee. I was back to my middle-school-self tearing through her writing and couldn't wait to see what came next. When the entires slowed and eventually stopped, I was sad because I knew it was because she had books to write, but I never dreamed I would get an entire book of THIS! It takes a special kind of author to not only continue a world of characters for so long so successfully, but to bring it so close to our reality without it feeling hokey. I feel like I share in Mia's world in a way I haven't with any other series.

Truly, I would read ten thousand more chapters of this if I could! I missed the land of Genovia and all of its quirky inhabitants and even though I know there's only so much she can write for them, I hope this isn't the end. Long Live Queen Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldo!

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Ms. Cabot is a favorite of mine and being back in the company of Mia Thermopolis was just as amazing as I remembered.
I am obsessed with the main character and the story that unfolds here in TQPD.
This is such a great royal contemporary read.

The Quarantine Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot had me smiling like a lot throughout.
This was very cute and entertaining story
It's sweet, funny and such a quick read.
The writing was amazing as usual. I love how she pulls you right into the story.
She keeps hooked and wanting to flip those pages.
Meg Cabot has characterized Mia and her life beautifully.
I liked the humor in the book it definitely was fun to read and it made me laugh more than once.
Any royal romance/Mia Thermopolis lover will enjoy this amazing book full of romance, and drama.
People of all ages will enjoy this book.
If you loved The Princess Diaries you'll love getting all cozy with this brand new installment of the diary of Mia Thermopolis, the princess who started it all?

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon Impulse:
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my blog, platforms, BookBub, B&N, Kobo and Waterstone closer to pub date.

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Super cute book that flew by. I loved the way the story was laid out and the humor in the writing. Perfect weekend read if you need a lighter book to occupy your time.

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I received a copy of The Quarantine Princess Diaries via NetGalley to read and review.

We follow Mia while she has to make decisions for Genovia regarding COVID. As anyone can imagine not all her choices are supported by everyone. I liked that Mia tried her best to follow guidelines- especially when family and friends didn’t seem to do the same. Some people thought social distancing and masks were reasonable and others did not. Overall this was a light read for such a trying time!

One random thing that caught my attention was when Judith and her kids were described as having red spots on their faces and said it was parvovirus. I’m not a doctor so I could be wrong but I thought parvovirus was seen in dogs?? Again I could be wrong but it was just something that caught my attention.

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Thank you to #NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. As a long time Meg Cabot/ Mia Thermopolis fangirl, I was thrilled when I saw this book existed, and jumped at the chance to read it. This book follows an older Princess Mia, quarantining in the Genovian palace with her whole family, plus Michael and their two year old twins (plus Lily and a bevy of other familiar cameos). Grandmerè remains a Lucile Bluth QUEEN. It was comforting and hilarious to see how beloved characters handled COVID, and I would highly recommend this book to any fan of Mia and her family.

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This was a cute fun Princess Diaries interlude. I always like Mega Cabot and I will always take a glimpse of life in Genovia.

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Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

I knew as soon as I saw this book that I had to read it (for the nostalgia if nothing else), and it didn't disappoint. Even years after the first novel, Mia is still, quintessentially, Mia. It was comforting to read a story about a beloved character going through the same struggles as the rest of the world for the past two years, and especially encouraging that the book ended with a hopeful tone. My inner child was so happy to read a new adventure of Mia's, and Meg Cabot does a great job of balancing a heavy topic with a lighthearted, hopeful (and lovably immature) main character.

Also - I did not realize how much my heart needed more Fat Louie, but apparently Meg Cabot did!

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I've been reading the Princess Diaries series since I was a kid, so I was really excited to read this book in the series. I missed Princess Mia and appreciated getting to read how Mia dealt with quarantine. Meg Cabot has a great writing style and I really missed it. I really felt for Mia, going through Quarantine with us I appreciate being able to read this and was glad it be back with Princess Mia.

"Count Ivan Renaldo is arranging a protest for tomorrow morning in front of the palace gates to demand that Princess Mia and the Prime Minister take down the roadblocks into Genovia and allow bars, restaurants, beaches, and hotels to open back up. We need our tourists!"

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This was very fun and what I expected—mostly. If you want a light-hearted pandemic story, this is it. Mia chronicles being on lockdown in Genovia with her toddler twins and wonderfully insufferable extended family (plus many more unwanted guests) while Michael strives to make a covid cure in his lab.

Things I adored and/or laughed myself silly over: Grandmere being engaged to a college spring breaker from Florida, the fact that Fat Louie and Rommel are still somehow alive, and Lana being Lana. I also enjoyed how outright political the story read regarding lockdown protestors, mask wearing, etc.

With each passing book, I hold out hope that Mia will become slightly more mature than she was previously, but that never really happens. For the most part that’s okay—we grew up together and are now in our 30s, and it’s comforting to know that even as a grown adult royal she doesn’t have it all figured out. However, Mia constantly questioning Michael’s intentions is frustrating. Like, girl…he loves you. You’re all good.

Princess Mia forever.

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I received an advanced copy of this book.

As a longtime fan of the Princess Diaries series, I was excited to get my hands on this book. All of my favorite characters were back and just as fun as ever. The writing style was more mature (as I would expect), but still chaotically Mia.

Did I need a book about Genovia during the pandemic? No. Did I enjoy it? Sure. I finished it in one sitting.

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