Adolescence

Okay, I love this series so much. So much.
BUT.
This whole PRECIOUS GIFT BS? It's just that. BS!!! Mia, you're a feminist! Virginity is a social construct used as another means of oppression! If she refers to "the precious gift of the flower" of her virginity twenty-five more times I will crack. (Not before then.)

This book also has a touch that almost comes off as transphobic when Mia and her friends don't know which gender Perin is and thus think that she is weird--it ultimately doesn't, but I did feel quite uncomfortable about one scene in particular. Of course, Mia then goes on to befriend Perin and adopt her into her friend group, so that's nicely resolved, but I think if Cabot were writing today, it would have been discussed further, and it was very much a point I wasn't happy with.

All in all, this book is probably the one that made me identify so much with everything Mia. Because most YA books feature characters being like "I want to jump his bones" "I'm planning how to jump his bones" "will I be perceived as slutty if I jump his bones?" and very few (any??) are like "Sex doesn't sound like fun" and I think maybe adults writing forget that sex is a scary thing at the age of 15!
I just started in on 8 and I'll get to my thoughts on Michael's response then, but for this one, Mia's reluctance is so realistic. And as an ace teen who had no idea that asexuality was a thing, this book was the most beautiful thing. So even though I want to four star this, it's getting five stars for making teen-Ema feel like she wasn't alone. ( )

I loved the Princess Diaries series when I was younger, but I've definitely outgrown it. ( )

I am so happy to read some actual growth coming from Mia. This book gives me how that the characters will change and not be stagnant, driving me insane. I also have to admit that I chuckled at the little shots Cabot took at the Disney movies. ( )

I feel like finally in this book something clicks for Mia about being a Princess and leader for that matter. In this installment Mia is faced with a lot of important things - she very well may have screwed up in Genovia over the summer, her boyfriend might want to get more serious than she is ready for, and her best friend has nominated her to run for student council president. So just another dramatic year for Mia.

This book was another crazy ramble of Mia's thoughts and feelings but she also started to learn that she really needs tom communication with people if she is ever going to learn anything and actually take on her role as a princess. Granted it takes the whole book for her to realize this but she is getting there.

I loved her growth in this book, she is really coming into herself and standing up for what she wants and doesn't want. She is growing up and it is showing. Now that doesn't mean that she isn't still freaking out like a teenager - there is still a lot of that fun ridiculous Mia humor for those of you who have read other books in the series. ( )