The Princess Diaries Book Club #3: Princess In Love

09:00 Cilla 2 Comments

• One of the things I like about the series that wasn't captured by the movie is the presence of Mia's father, Phillipe Reynaldi. He's not a present father and seems to be quite a pushover most of the time (understandable, given what Grandmere is like I wouldn't argue with her much either). However, when he takes charge, he really does take charge. I love the way he stood up for Mia here. I also love the fact that they actually have a genuine conversation this time, rather than just a negotiation with Mia complaining about her princess duties and Phillipe resignedly conceding to a compromise. 
• I forgot how much I enjoyed Mia's lists. 
• I feel that Kenny was fairly nice, though not very interesting. I'm guessing that's deliberate, since he's never meant as a real competition for Michael. He's perhaps a little insistent, but as Ted Mosby would posit - how a grand romantic gesture is received depends on how the intended target feels about it. Mia is embarrassed by his romantic declarations because she doesn't like him; had they come from Michael, she'd love them. In any case, I like the advice Mia receives from both his father and grandmother on the topic. 
• Speaking of grandmother, I actually understand Grandmere's motivation behind the big scandal she created. She went about it absolutely the wrong way, but she actually meant well. It's quite different from Princess in the Spotlight, where she absolutely insists on the wedding party for her own purposes, not Mia's mother's. I love her interactions with Mia in this book; I feel they are understanding each other more with each book, even if they continue to take different positions in different issues. 
• Michael Moscovitz is a nerd. I love it.
• I have many feelings about the climax of this book. I was fully aware that Mia has a drama-queen streak and tends to have a big, occasionally strange, reaction to things, but this re-confirms that for me. Surely she knows Michael better than to think he'd humiliate her?? That said, I couldn't help but swoon a little at the way they got together. Michael showing up disheveled and out of breath at the dance, hoping to explain things to Mia, is really cute.
• Tina Hakim Baba is still a better best friend than Lily Moscovitz. I can understand letting her brother and best friend realise their feelings for each other on their own, but not if it was the motivation was for a social experiment.