I asked to review “The Quarantine Princess Diaries” by Megan Cabot as I had read excerpts on Meg Cabot’s Facebook page and was excited to see how the novel turned out.

For those of you that have not kept in touch with Mia, she and Michael married with twins and living happily ever after in Genovia, butting heads with Grandmère who still wants Mia to do things Grandmère’s way. Then along comes March 2020. Michael is quarantining in another bedroom, and Mia’s efforts to keep Genovia and its population safe do not meet solid support.

This is a novel where you have to be willing to suspend disbelief. Mia’s pushback was resolved too easily, especially when you reflect back on how the United States and its leader reacted to these same events. But a reader doesn’t pick up this book to see how the pandemic was actually handled and quite frankly, I appreciated the alternate reality. All of your favorite characters are back and though as adults, they don’t quite appear as you remember them, it makes you want to pull out the earlier books, reread them, and maybe watch the movies too.

Three and a half stars.

Many thanks to the author, NetGalley and publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Only Mia Thermopolis can make light of the mess the pandemic was for all of us. We get an insight into Mia's life as the reigning royal of Genovia amid a global pandemic. Her take on everything is hysterical as usual. She goes from having her grandmother in the center of a scandal for partying out on Mia's yacht during covid to being quarantined away from her husband for 14 days to her best friend breaking up with her fiance. With every hurdle, we get the same Mia, just dealing with something that hit all of us so out of the blue, and it was refreshing to read.

Even though this is one case of where I prefer the movie over the book. I still will pick up a new Princess Dairies book. As the first book in the series came out when I was in high school. A freshman going through the awkward phase much like Mia. So you could say I grew up with Mia. So I knew I had to read The Quarantine Princess Diaries. But I don't think I could have read it sooner than this year, the humor wouldn't have held up if I had read it in the mists of the lockdowns of the early pandemic. But it this one Mia has come into her own as the ruler of her country along with her Prime Minster. But it was also nice to see her human side and emotions while going through the pandemic. And even though she's the ruler now she still our same Mia.

I will never not be obsessed with the Princess Diaries series. It is the series that ignited my love for reading. After winning the sixth book in a summer library reading contest (and after loving the movies), I found the stories hilarious and relatable. I still loved the book even though I read the sixth book first, so I went back and read from the beginning because I knew that I couldn’t get enough of Princess Mia.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book. When I started book reviewing, another entry to the PD series wasn’t on the horizon, but once I heard that a 12th book was coming out, I knew I had to read it ASAP and spread the love!

The Quarantine Princess Diaries follows Mia through the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mia is navigating how to co-govern the country with the new Prime Minister of Genovia, while also dealing with her crazy extended family (husband, twins, parents, half sister, half brother, grandmother, and grandmother’s new boy toys) quarantining with her in the palace. This book is perfect if you are a longtime fan of the series. If you haven’t read any of the other books, you can still easily follow along in this book, since Mia explains briefly her past friendships and who they are to her, so new readers are not lost. That being said, you get much more out of the book if you have read the whole series. Of course, the pandemic humor is universal and you don’t need to read the previous books to relate to it.

I’ve seen some reviews that her story is a bit out of touch given the amount of death and poverty as a result of the pandemic. Maybe that’s true, but we are reading about a white fictional princess from a rich European country. I’ve been suspending disbelief with Mia since 2007, and for the most part she’s not that out of touch. Are we only happy when the privileged end up like Princess Diana?

This is the second book of adult Princess Mia, and I loved absolutely every minute. It’s so sweet to see Michael and Mia so in love, but still having their minor conflicts. When one is going stir-crazy during a pandemic, it is natural to have fears and anxieties crop up, but Michael and Mia seem to handle it very maturely. Along the same vein, Mia has body image issues in the book (as she did as a teenager) since she is worried about the weight she gained during the pandemic. Just because she is worried about her weight doesn’t suddenly make this book antifeminist. True feminism is acknowledging society’s pressure for women to look and feel thin constantly, and it’s better to address those fears than portray our literary characters as perfect role models who never succumb to these insecurities.

I can’t wait to share my love for this book, Princess Mia, Prince Michael, and this series with other readers. Meg Cabot always knows how to deliver a book that speaks to my soul!

Such a fun twist on the princess diaries. I love when writers acknowledge the pandemic and how that impacts people. A great story by Meg Cabot!

How does Genovia handle the pandemic?
By following all the major themes of the pandemic, interspersed among several characters and situations.
My favorites, who made me laugh, were Lana and Clarisse.
Mia, as usual, reacted over the top and overthought everything.
Michael added charm, wit, and stability.
Another book to add to the Genovia chronicles.

The Quarantine Princess Diaries is a fun update on our favorite Princess of Genovia. As usual, Meg Cabot gives us a new look at Mia -- this time as the leader of a country during a historical time of distress. Long-time fans of the series will undoubtedly find Mia and her ways of coping with the pandemic relatable and comforting, if not with a bit of envy at the luxury palace she spent lockdown in.

Using contemporary topics in fiction isn’t exactly new, but I have to say I’d never have expected the pandemic to show up in a series like The Princess Diaries. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the chronicling of Mia and Genovia’s experiencing such an intense real world event. I mean the series has always had a sort of carefree/whimsical quality about it. And yet somehow Meg Cabot makes it work, managing to maintain the feel of these beloved characters while also addressing the serious issue the world faced. While it isn’t my favorite book in the series, I’m willing to bet most fans the series will enjoy the return to Genovia. I’d like to thank Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read sand review an eARC of The Quarantine Princess Diaries.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R6IO11I3SWCS/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

A big thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC. I am voluntarily revieiwg this book. This is part of a series, but reads well as a stand alone. I still like the characters but I thought this was stale. I guess by the time this came out we were all over the entire quarantine thing. I am not sure how it will hold up in time either. This is pretty situational. Maybe good for lovers of the series though. 3 stars

I've seen the "Princess Diaries" movies that were made by Disney, but after reading this YA type book nothing was the same. No sweet Grandmother, her father is still alive, and she's not a Queen. It takes place right as the USA is hit with Covid-19.

Princess Mia and her husband, Prince Michael, are busy raising their twin toddlers, Elizabeth and Frank when Mia is forced to shut down Genovia. Michael is thought to have come into contact with the virus and he needs to quarantine alone for 14 days. But it was her grandmother, Clarisse, who has come into contact with a spring breaker from Florida who got the virus. With her small country shut down, her people abide by her rules until they have had enough. She's forced to reopen everything and thousands of cases hit the country.

With so-called friends flying in and welcoming themselves to her hospitality, Mia has no backbone to throw them out. Michael's working day and night with his medical team to create a vaccine for everyone. While protesters are surrounding the palace refusing to wear masks.

This story was a cute read, but don't go off by the Disney movies. There are remarks about unauthorized movies that were made about Mia's life, starring Chris Pine. He was in the second movie, but if this author did work with Disney, don't smack the hand the made you popular.

I haven’t read a Princess Diaries book since 2010 but I was a die-hard fan back in middle/high school. I realized while reading this one that I completely missed the last book, Royal Wedding. Honestly, this was fine. I wouldn’t bother reading unless you’re a big fan of the series and looking for a nostalgic fix, and also mentally in a place where you want to read pandemic fiction. Princess Mia running a country during a pandemic pretty much goes exactly as you’d expect. While these characters were funny when I was young, they are kind of annoying now since they act like high schoolers instead of 40 year olds. Grandmere is still hilarious and the best character. Giving it 3 stars since I did have a few laughs and mostly because I’m just a fan of the series in general.

I am not sure I will ever be able to adequately describe how much I love Meg Cabot. This one was a great addition to the Princess line up.. Funny and sweet and real. I just loved it.

Princess Mia is always a breath of fresh air. It is so enjoyable to jump back into her diaries and hear her voice and see where life has taken her (yes I know she is a character, but an influential one). This one was filled with humor and at times frustration (thinking back to the pandemic lockdown and difficult choices that had to be made). I could see her struggle. The book is also filled with humor from all of the side characters and their personalities. This was fun, and if reading about the pandemic doesn't bother you and you love Princess Mia pick this one up.

Princess Mia is ruling Genovia seamlessly until the pandemic strikes. From mask mandates to social distancing, Mia tries to keep her country safe and her sanity intact as she quarantines with her large family. Will she steer Genovia through the pandemic? Or will everything drive her crazy?


Meg Cabot has done it again! When I got the advanced arc for this book I screamed with joy! As a long-time fan of the Princess Diaries (I used to get them the first day they came out), it was great to be back in the world of Mia and co.

While it was surprisingly hard to relive the pandemic (clearly I still have a little PTSD), it was great to see the many wonderful characters from the books return! I particularly enjoyed Grandmere’s antics and Mia’s awesome narration. So many Easter eggs and chestnuts for the fans while providing another great installment for the series. I love this adult turn for Mia, who has grown up with her readers. I hope there will be other books in the future!

What's it about (in a nutshell):
The Quarantine Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot is the twelfth book in the Princess Diaries series. Royal Wedding (#11) was published in 2015, so it has been eight years since the last book was published. In this new installment to Princess Mia's story, she is going through the pandemic in Genovia, where she now rules. As a leader, she must make tough decisions to keep everyone in her small country safe and healthy.
My Reading Experience:
It's been so long since I've been in Genovia with Princess Mia, and I enjoyed the nostalgia of visiting old friends. Princess Mia is as quirky as ever. She is now married to her longtime boyfriend, Michael (brother of her best friend Lily), and they have 2-year-old twins. Also living in the palace are Mia's parents with their children Olivia (a teen) and Rocky.
And, of course, Princess Dowager Clarisse Renaldi, who has stepped down for Mia to take charge and is as feisty as ever. These fun characters bring so much life to the story, and their laugh-out-loud antics make this a happy place to visit.

But reading the story was a bit of a mixed bag. I did enjoy all the personal antics, as always. Those antics are what I look for in every book in this series. But, when it came to the parts about the pandemic, those parts of the story fell flat for me. I would have expected to see Mia as a princess in turmoil over what to do at each juncture. Still, instead, she just followed the prescribed trail without question or doubt. This, in turn, made parts of the story a bit preachy, and we've already been there and done that. Also, Michael is developing a vaccine that's 99.9% effective…mmm hmm…okay.

I did, however, love old friends and family popping in on them from the US and the discomfort when they came in without masks. It did make it seem like it was an American thing to do that (which it really wouldn't have been – most of us did what we were told), which was both funny and called into question Mia's (who was raised in American) ease at making divisive decisions. But even with all this push and pull, I still enjoyed being back in Genovia, where the sun always shines and the rich come to play.

How did Princess Mia and the kingdom of Genovia cope with the pandemic? Author Meg Cabot brings readers back into the world of The Princess Diaries in this new addition, The Quarantine Princess Diaries. The diary entries start right at the beginning of the pandemic and follow Princess Mia as she helps her kingdom throughout the health crisis.

I have been a fan of Meg Cabot’s work for a long time now. I adore her books, especially the Princess Diaries series. This book seems to deviate from the cool and collected Mia that has been built up through the series. The author does well with capturing the initial chaos of it all but as the diary goes on the only one acting with any sense is Michael.

Overall, The Quarantine Princess Diaries was okay. It doesn't really add to the series but it doesn't take away from the canon of The Princess Diaries either.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager (Avon Impulse)!

I am a huge fan of this series. I have read and listened to it multiple times. I feel that it's almost too early and also somehow too late for a book about COVID-19. It was giving very much celebs in their house singing vibes. One of the best things about mia has always been how down to earth and how utterly stupid she is at times, but sadly she just comes off as so out of touch here. there wasn't that loveable girl that we all know.

While it's a little jarring to reexperience with Mia the early, confusing days of the pandemic, it's also fun to do so with a beloved character who feels like a friend. While I wouldn't want to have walked in Princess Mia's shoes with her responsibilities to the people of Genovia, her hope and vision make this story worth it.

Thank you Avon Harper Voyager, Avon Impulse for my advanced copy! All thoughts are my own.

I was very very excited to visit Genovia in this book. But ultimately, I think this is one piece of nostalgia I should have left in the past. Or at least just watched the movie. This book is fine, but I really didn’t enjoy reading it. I wasn’t charmed by the characters and felt annoyed and outraged more often than joyful. It does focus on the early days of the pandemic, but instead of being funny or endearing, I just found the characters insufferable.

Ultimately, the book is short and fun but I don’t think it was necessary for Princess Mia’s legacy.

Synopsis:

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, a section of the diary of Princess Mia Thermopolis of Genovia fell into the hands of Meg Cabot, the Princess’s royal biographer.

As reported in media outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, The Mary Sue, Refinery 29, Bustle, and more, from March until June of 2020, sixteen entries of the princess’s diary were leaked onto Ms. Cabot’s blog, to the delight of over a million fans.

In these entries, titled The Coronavirus Princess Diaries, the princess recorded her most heartfelt emotions while dealing with her husband’s quarantine after exposure to the virus; her personal (and political) battles while imposing health restrictions on her small European nation; life during lockdown (even in as idyllic a location as a palace on the Riviera); and of course, dealing with her demanding royal family, especially her grandmother.

Since then, readers have been clamoring for more chapters of Mia’s coronavirus diary . . . and here they are at last: The Quarantine Princess Diaries include not only the previously released entries (now edited and updated with new content), but two hundred more pages of entirely original, never-before-seen entries, including the princess’s worries over a possible royal affair; a showdown between Mia and Grandmère over the latter’s intended nuptials; the eventual development and distribution of a groundbreaking intranasal vaccine for every citizen in Genovia; and, as always, a royally happy ending.

After all we’ve been through, what could be more comforting for any lover of royal romance than snuggling up with a brand new installment of the diary of Mia Thermopolis, the princess who started it all?” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Nostalgia—I loved Meg Cabot when I was younger. She was absolutely part of my foundation as a reader. I was really excited to revisit Mia and her friends and family for this reason. But I think I remembered the books wildly differently…

What Didn’t Work:

The Overall Tone—The tone is pretty irreverent, which I wasn’t expecting. I will admit I didn’t read the blog posts Meg Cabot released early on in 2020 when everyone was joking about how Mia would handle the Pandemic in Genovia, so maybe this is what they were like. But I found it pretty two dimensional and frankly, annoying. There were also some words and phrases that made me cringe.

Immature Characters—I read The Princess Diaries: The Royal Wedding when it came out and really enjoyed it! I guess I thought that this would feel more like that…but I don’t think it did. Mia felt like she hadn’t grown up at all.

Lack of Plot—It felt like there was no direction in this book. Maybe that was the point, since we were all a little directionless in 2020, but from a reading perspective, it didn’t work.

Character Authenticity: 1/5 Spice Rating: N/A Overall Rating: 2/5

Content Warnings:

excessive alcohol use, Covid-19 pandemic

Do you love Princess Diaries, well she is back! :
Genovia - Princess Mia has returned in another installment, #12, in her reign as Princess of Genovia
Quarantine - so when the world comes down with Covid, she does what any concerned monarch would, and shuts it down
Leadership - but how does she handle people with adverse points of view while her husband works on a vaccine?

So I always forget when I read these books how much they differ from the movies, as they rank as some of my favs. And this book actually does poke fun at what they call the “unauthorized biopic” of Princess Mia’s life. I did like spending time with the characters again, but through a lot of the book I was hoping for something different then other books that came out about the same time period. As someone who lived through it, I wasn’t sure I was ready to read about it. But I did like a few interesting points made, and if you are truly a YOUNG adult, you probably will like it a lot.