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Showing posts with label Lindsey Leavitt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lindsey Leavitt. Show all posts
Monday, November 03, 2025
The Bookish Books Reading Challenge: November Book Ideas and Link-Up for Reviews
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October flew by and, somehow, it's now November 3rd. Honestly, I don't know how that happened! With less than two months left in the year, 2025 is almost gone. Crazy. Anyway, I only managed to read two bookish books in October:
The Garden Just Beyond by Lindsey Leavitt—I talked about this middle-grade fantasy in last month's post. Its main character is very bookish. Her attic room/library is her sanctuary.
Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani—I reread this adult novel about a woman living in the titular small, Southern town, who learns that the man who raised her was not her biological father. This shocking revelation sends her on a quest to find herself that pushes her to look beyond the confines of her mundane life in rural Virginia.
Ave Maria Mulligan loves to read. Her best friend drives a bookmobile, where the two exchange heartfelt conversations, advice, and reading recommendations.
How about you? Did you read any bookish books in October?
For November, I'm going to keep working through the books I want to finish before the year ends. None of them are overtly bookish, at least not that I know of, but the one I'm reading now does have a bookish element, so I'm going to count it, even if it's not a big part of the story. I'm getting desperate here! Ha ha.
Everyone in This Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson (coming March 17, 2026)—I've got an e-ARC of this book, the third full-length novel in the always enjoyable Ernest Cunningham mystery series. (It's actually the fourth installment, but Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret, the third, is a novella, albeit one that is on the longer side.) Before puzzling murders started finding Ernest, his job was penning how-to books about the craft of writing murder mysteries. Now, he's a memoirist, entertaining readers by recounting the real-life murders with which he's been involved. Thinking he might be able to make actual money as a private detective, he is trying to secure a bank loan in order to launch a business. After multiple rejections, he is summoned to an out-of-the-way bank by its co-director. To Ernest's surprise, the executive asks him to solve a mystery—the man's co-director has disappeared—in exchange for the loan. Before our hero really has the chance to start his reluctant investigation, he finds himself being held hostage by a nervous bank robber. Then someone is murdered. The bank is on lockdown, with no way in or out, so the killer can only be one of the hostages. Who did the dirty deed? And why? It's up to Ernest to find out before he or, worse, his fianceè, becomes the next victim.
This series is clever and funny. I've enjoyed all the books and, not surprisingly, I'm loving this one so far.
How about you? Do you have any bookish books on the docket for November?
If you are participating in the 2025 Bookish Books Reading Challenge, please use the widget below to link-up your November reviews. If you're not signed up for the challenge yet, what are you waiting for? Click here to join the party.
Wednesday, October 01, 2025
The Bookish Books Reading Challenge: October Book Ideas and Link-Up for Reviews
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Happy October! I hope you're able to enjoy some nice, cool Fall weather where you are. Temperatures here in the Phoenix area have dropped from three digits to only two, so that's something, even if we're still in the upper 90s. Ugh.
Enough unpleasantness, let's talk about bookish books. I read three of them in September:
The Librarians by Sherry Thomas—As indicated by the title, this murder mystery revolves around several employees of a quiet library in Austin, Texas. Although the co-workers know each other, it's not until they're faced with solving two murders related to their workplace, that they really begin to trust and rely on each other. As they reveal their secrets to each other, they create a bond that helps them find out what really happened to the murder victims.
As much as I liked the premise of this novel, it didn't end up working very well for me. The story is mostly about the characters and their interpersonal relationships, not about the plot, which made the book a bit of a slog. It took me awhile to read it because it was just so putdownable. Bummer.
Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson—This middle-grade verse novel is set in 1963 in a mostly white neighborhood in Philadelphia. It stars Cooper Dale, a Black bookworm who's just starting fifth grade. Over the course of the school year, she experiences anxiety, fear, racism, sadness, and worry as well as triumph, joy, acceptance, and love. Through it all, she relies on wise words from her father, the Bible, Martin Luther King, Jr., and her favorite poet, Langston Hughes. Although the book deals with some tough subjects, it's ultimately a hopeful, uplifting read.
Murder By Memory by Olivia Waite—I'm not sure if this novella really counts as bookish, but since it has books on the cover and it references "the library" a lot, I'm going with it. The story is set on a spaceship where people can live forever by changing up their physical bodies whenever they feel like it. If you need a break between lifetimes, you can store your mind in the ship's vast library, where it will be kept safe until you need it again. When ship detective Dorothy Gentleman is yanked out of her rest involuntarily, she's confused. Especially when she spies a dead body nearby. As she investigates the murder, she's shocked to discover that someone is purposely erasing minds from the library. Who would do such a dastardly thing? And why? It's up to her to find out.
I'm not a big fan of short fiction because I like to sink into stories, especially when they involve complicated world-building. Murder By Memory has an interesting premise and world, but I didn't feel like 100 pages was enough to really do any of it justice. Because of that, this was just an okay read for me. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it were a full-length novel.
How about you? What bookish books did you read in September?
For the last three months of the year, I'm going to try to read all the books on my "Read Before the End of the Year" list. None of them are overtly bookish, so we'll see what happens. I did start this one yesterday:
The Garden Just Beyond by Lindsey Leavitt—It's a middle-grade book about a family who's known for the life-changing dinners they serve to paying guests. Diners think the magic is in the garden-fresh produce the family uses, but what they don't know is that the garden actually is magic, and the food it produces is able to manipulate people's emotions. When a suspicious person buys up all the property neighboring their secluded farm, the family worries that someone is trying to steal their secrets and run their thriving business into the ground.
Our narrator is Maggie Gartner, a 14-year-old girl who's socially awkward and counts her books as her only real friends. Her attic bedroom is filled with a library of family history records, journals, account books, and so on. It's her happy place, the one spot where she feels truly at home.
Do you have any bookish books on tap for October?
If you are participating in the 2025 Bookish Books Reading Challenge, please use the widget below to link-up your October reviews. If you're not signed up for the challenge yet, what are you waiting for? Click here to join the party.
Monday, September 15, 2025
Top Ten Tuesday: 30 Books I Want to Read Before 2025 Ends (Part Two)
Today's TTT prompt is a fun one, but also one that requires way more creativity than I possess: Top Ten Literary/Bookish Candles I'd Make (Pick a book and assign it a fragrance or fragrance combo that would make a nice candle.). I love me a scented candle (although I tend to stick to basic scents like vanilla and cinnamon spice), so I'm excited to see what you all come up with. With apologies to Heather over at The Frozen Library, who suggested this week's topic, I'm going to go rogue and continue with my series of the 30 Books I (Most) Want to Read Before 2025 Ends. I posted Part One last week.
As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.
30 Books I Want to Read Before 2025 Ends (Part Two)
1. To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower—I enjoy this author's Amish Candy Shop cozy mystery series, so I'm eager to read more books by her. This one is the first installment in a historical mystery series starring Katherine Wright, the younger sister of Orville and Wilbur. When her brothers' plans for a new flying machine are stolen and a murder is subsequently committed, she finds herself playing amateur sleuth to prove her brothers' innocence.
2. Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite—This book, the first in a series that's being billed as a "sci-fi ode to the cozy mystery," takes place on a luxurious passenger spaceship that offers every amenity, including new bodies on demand. Dorothy Gentleman, one of the ship's detectives, awakens in a new body just as a passenger is murdered. When she discovers that someone is deleting minds from the library, she jumps into action, determined to get to the bottom of the crimes before any other bodies—or brains—are destroyed.
3. The Enemy's Daughter by Anne Blankman—This middle-grade historical novel is about a young German girl who survives the sinking of the Lusitania only to find herself alone in enemy territory. Believing her to be a Dutch refugee, a kind Irish family takes her in. She's safe for now, but what will happen if her hosts discover her true identity?
4. The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey—Miv's life is already going off the rails and now her father thinks they should move away from everyone and everything Miv has ever known because of a series of murders that have happened in their town. Not wanting to turn her life even more upside down, Miv enlists the help of her best friend to take note of every odd thing that happens in their neighborhood. Their sleuthing uncovers a whole Pandora's box of secrets, some that hit way too close to home.
5. The Garden Just Beyond by Lindsey Leavitt—This middle-grade novel revolves around the Gartners, a family with the magical ability to harvest crops that can change people's emotions. Meals at their estate are highly sought after. Maggie Gartner feels like an outlier in her talented family, especially when their magic is threatened by an outsider. Can Maggie help save the Gartners and their special business?
6. Murder in Greenwich Village by Liz Freeland—In this first-in-a-series mystery, it's 1913 and 20-year-old Louise Falk has traded her Pennsylvania upbringing for the bright lights of New York City. Solving a murder that happened in her Greenwich Village apartment proves she has an aptitude for investigation. Soon, she's moving all over the city to sniff out criminal activity.
7. The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner by Erin Stewart—A tale about overcoming grief and anxiety, this middle-grade novel is about a girl whose ability to see magic all around her dims when her beloved father dies. When she's given a pencil by a favorite author, the stories she writes come to life before her eyes. Is she fooling herself by believing that she can write her own happy ending?
8. The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights by Kitty Zeldis—In 1924, an ambitious dressmaker named Beatrice moves to New York City with her teenage ward, Alice, to open a dress shop. When Bea befriends Catherine, a woman who lives near the store, Alice feels so abandoned that she runs away. Her departure sets in motion a series of events that forces all of the women to confront the secrets in their pasts.
9. Sanctuary by Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher—Set in near-future America, this timely YA novel portrays a United States where every citizen has been implanted with a chip that tracks all of their movements. Undocumented immigrants have almost no chance of survival, but counterfeit trackers have allowed Vali and her family to stay on the down low so far. When her mom's chip malfunctions, attracting the attention of the Deportation Forces, they're forced to make a run for California, a sanctuary state. Can they outrun the police and finally find real freedom?
10. Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate—I love Applegate's tender children's novels. I'm not exactly sure what the plot of her newest is, but it stars a bear who was created to be a symbol of comfort and hope that a World War I soldier could carry in his pocket. One hundred years later, Pocket Bear is the mayor of a home where used toys are refurbished and given another chance to be loved. Sounds like a sweet read.
There you go, ten more books I want to read before the end of the year. Have you read any of them? Which titles would you like to get to before 2025 waves goodbye? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Top Ten Tuesday: Top 25 for 200 in 2022, Part 2
Only 12 sleeps left until the Big Day? How is that possible? Ack! I still haven't finished decorating, haven't even started sending out my Christmas cards, have only bought a few gifts, and...yeah. I'm sure I will get everything done by Christmas, but I'm stressing a bit over here. I'm also lagging behind in my reading. If I hope to reach my goal of reading 200 books by the end of the year, I better hurry it up. I'm at 180 right now. I'm almost finished with my main read, but that still leaves 19 to go. We'll see how I do.
Seasonal reading lists are my favorite, so I'm loving today's TTT topic: Top Ten Books On My Winter 2022-2023 TBR List. In fact, I started my list last week with this post listing 12 of the 25 I planned to read to complete my goal. Since then, I have read three of them and DNF'd one. Today, I'm going to give you 13 more that I'm hoping to read in the next few weeks.
I'd love to see what's on your Winter TBR list. If you want to join in the TTT fun (and you do!), click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the deets.
Top Twenty-Five Books I'm Going to Read to Meet My 2022 Reading Goal, Part Two
1. How to Fake An Irish Wake by Eliza Watson—This is my current paper read. It's a fun cozy mystery set in Ireland and featuring a genealogical mystery: the search for a man's biological father in a small Irish town. I've only got about 50 pages to go and I'm not sure "whodunit" yet.
2. The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell—I started this mystery on audio yesterday. It concerns the mysterious disappearance of two teenage parents from a party at a house called Dark Place. Two years later, a mystery novelist moves into a cottage near the now abandoned home and gets embroiled in the cold case. I'm enjoying the read so far.
3. The Gods of Green County by Mary Elizabeth Pope—I mentioned this novel in a TTT list a couple weeks ago. I need to read a book set in Arkansas for a reading challenge and this one sounds intriguing. It's about a woman who's taking on the powers that be in her small town to find out what really caused her brother's suspicious death. Neither of my local libraries had a copy of the book, so I went ahead and bought it. I'm planning to read it this week.
4. All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes—Bethany House sent me a copy of this book to review. It's gotten great buzz, so I'm excited. It's set in Venice and concerns an abandoned baby who is found floating in the canals. Decades later, a translator may be the one who solves the mystery of the child's true origin.
5. The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes—I've enjoyed this YA Knives Out-like series. This is the last book in the series and I'm excited to see how the story ends.
6. Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan—Ever since it came out last year, I've been wanting to read this story about a woman whose dying brother's wish is to know the truth about Narnia. When his sister timidly approaches C.S. Lewis, she has no idea that their encounters will change all of their lives. Sounds like a heartwarming holiday read!
7. Willis Wilbur Wows the World by Lindsey Leavitt—Leavitt's books are always fun. I'm sure this one will be no exception. It's about an enterprising 9-year-old who decides his life's true calling is to become the neighborhood life coach. Hilarity ensues.
8. The Ghost of Wyvern Lake by Sheila A. Nielson—This is a Halloween story, not a Christmas one, but it sounds fun so I'm going for it. When the fish in Wyvern Lake start dying of a mysterious illness, the owner drains the water hole only to uncover an old church with a very angry ghost inside. It's up to a group of young ghost hunters to free their town of a malevolent entity.
9. Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister—I'm intrigued by this book's premise. It's about a mother who is shocked and devastated when she witnesses her 17-year-old son killing a stranger. The next morning, she's stunned all over again when she discovers that it's not tomorrow but yesterday. Time is moving backwards, a miraculous gift she's been given to save her boy from committing a horrendous act.
10. Cece Rios and the King of Fears by Kaela Rivera—The second book in a MG series based on Mexican folklore, this one features a young bruja who must take on a powerful criatura in order to save her sister's soul.
11. Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green—I enjoyed the one book I've read by Green and I'm really looking forward to her newest, which just came out. This one is actually her 2020 debut. It concerns a young woman who is studying linguistics at the University of Minnesota. When she's asked by the Army to serve as a translater at a nearby German POW camp, she does it only reluctantly. Her service there, as well as her growing compassion for the prisoners, makes her an enemy in the surrounding town. When she finds herself falling for one of the inmates, she must question her own traitorous heart.
12. The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope—This historical fantasy sounds fun. It's about a woman who can commune with spirits and the debt she owes to a powerful entity. In order to free herself from its clutches, she must perform a daring heist that will no doubt lead her into all kinds of trouble.
13. Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz—I still need to read a book set in Montana and this cozy mystery sounds fun. It concerns a woman who turns her family's 100-year-old general store into a boutique selling local delicacies. When a former employee turns up dead, she has to channel her inner Nancy Drew to save herself and her store from suspicion.
There you go, thirteen books I'm planning to read before the year ends. Have you read any of them? What's on your Winter TBR list? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Friday, July 25, 2014
Leavitt's YA Vegas Romance a Little Thin
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Holly Nolan's beloved Grandpa Jim dies during bypass surgery, the 17-year-old is devastated. She can't imagine how she's supposed to go on with her life, let alone her "part-time" job without his guidance. For as long as she can remember, Holly's been as devoted to saving her grandfather's wedding chapel—a crumbling icon on the Las Vegas strip—as he always was. Lately, it's been a losing battle. Now that Jim's gone, Holly can't bear to see it close, or worse, get bought up by her grandpa's jerk of a business rival. What will become of The Rose of Sharon Wedding Chapel now?
At the reading of her grandfather's will, Holly gets the shock of her life: she is the new owner of the wedding chapel. She's been working there forever, sure, but she knows nothing about steering a failing business back into the black. Or, does she? As Holly pulls out all the stops to save the chapel she loves, she finds herself sacrificing everything—her sanity, her social life and, quite possibly, the love of her life (who just happens to be the grandson of her Jim's rival/mortal enemy). The harder she battles to save The Rose of Sharon, the more she wonders if the fight is worthwhile. Which will win out in the end—the chapel that symbolizes everything Holly loves about her past or Dax, the guy who just might hold the key to her bigger, brighter future?
The Chapel Wars, the newest offering from Lindsey Leavitt, gives readers everything they've come to expect from the popular YA author. The quirky, upbeat story is filled with humor, romance and colorful characters. A vibrant, unique setting, brought to life by a Las Vegas native, definitely adds to the novel's appeal. As much as I enjoy a fun, breezy read, especially one written by Leavitt, this one disappointed me a little bit. The plot felt thin and far-fetched. Dax didn't strike me as all that likable—I get that he's hot, but he's got to have at least a little substance to make me want to root for him. Speaking of substance, I think that's what was really missing in this one for me. It was a little too breezy, you know? All in all, the book kept me entertained, but in the end, it was just an okay read for me.
(Readalikes: The Romeo and Juliet/business rivals aspect of the story reminded me of Lisa McMann's Visions trilogy [Crash; Bang; Gasp], although the plots don't have a lot in common.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), sexual innuendo, and depictions of underage drinking/partying
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Chapel Wars from the generous folks at Bloomsbury via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Light, Funny Break-up Tale Vintage Leavitt
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Mallory Bradshaw's boyfriend of thirteen months cheats on her with some cyber chick he's never even met, the 16-year-old is livid. She's so upset, she decides to swear off boys forever. Then, she discovers an old list of goals her grandmother wrote in 1962. The quaintness of it (run for pep club secretary; sew my own homecoming dress; host a dinner party, etc.) strikes a chord in Mallory's wounded soul. Her grandma obviously lived in a softer, more innocent time, an era when boys didn't cyber-cheat on girls they claimed to love. Mallory vows, right then and there, to bring back those simpler days. Ditching her cell phone, computer, iPod and anything else that didn't exist in her grandma's teenage years, Mallory embarks on a quest to check off every item on the goal list. So what if she can't sew on a button to save her life? Who cares if her school hasn't had a pep club in 50 years? Mallory's going to do everything on her grandma's list, even if it kills her. Which it just might.
As Mallory attempts to follow in her grandma's footsteps, she finds the path back to the good ole days to be a little rockier than she imagined. Her friends think her attempt to "go vintage" is crazy, and Mallory's starting to agree. When she seeks inspiration from her grandma (who doesn't know about her granddaughter's attempt to step back in time), the older woman seems distant and unwilling to reminisce about the past. Is it possible that her teenage years weren't as easy-breezy as they seem? Undaunted, Mallory continues her journey which, really, has always been about one thing: finding her own identity. As she struggles to complete the list, Mallory learns some important lessons—about finishing what she's started, about her grandma and, ultimately, about herself.
Vintage is a good way to describe this novel because it's everything you'd expect from the always upbeat, always funny Lindsey Leavitt. With its warm, peppy tone; its quirky, relatable characters; and its pointed, but not preachy moral, Going Vintage is vintage Leavitt. Which is what makes the book so fun. Is it the most original story I've ever read? Nope. The most impactful? Nuh uh. Still, it's a light, enjoyable tale that's perfect for the lazy days of summer, which are coming all too soon ...
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs) and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Going Vintage from the generous folks at Bloomsbury via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
TTT: Light, Fun Reads? What are Those?
Oh, and I forgot to tell you that this always popular meme is hosted by the lovely ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish. If you haven't joined in the fun yet, give it a try. It's a good time, I promise!
So, okay, here's what I came up with:
1. Ally Carter—I recently read the first book in Carter's middle grade spy school series (I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You) and it was totally fun. Heist Society, her YA series, is similar. They're light, funny, enjoyable books that are perfect when you need a fast, breezy story to take your mind off the weighty things of the world!
2. Melanie Jacobson—If you're into LDS fiction (and I'm not talking the so-cheesy-it-hurts kind), Jacobson is your new best friend. Her new adult romances are contemporary, fun and better written than just about anything else you'll find at an LDS bookstore.
3. Lindsey Leavitt—Leavitt's middle grade Princess for Hire series offers a lot of good, clean fun. I also really liked Sean Griswold's Head, although it's a little more serious. I've got Leavitt's newest, a YA novel called Going Vintage, on my Kindle, I just haven't gotten around to reading it yet ... better get on that!
4. Janette Rallison—Fun, easy reads are Rallison's trademark. Her Fairy Godmother books are especially charming (a little princess joke—hee hee).
5. Meg Cabot—Okay, so I haven't actually read anything by Cabot, but I'm totally planning to. I've heard her books fit this category super well ...
6. Joanne Fluke—I'm not going to lie, Fluke's culinary mysteries are TERRIBLE. But, if I'm in the mood for something that's entertaining while requiring very little from my always overtaxed brain cells, these books do the trick every time.
Since I obviously need lots of help in this category, throw out some suggestions. Which light, fun books should I be reading?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Upbeat Disease Novel Affecting Without Being "Issue-y"
(Image from Indiebound)Thanks to the mighty gods of alphabetical order, 15-year-old Payton Gritas has spent a lot of time staring at the back of Sean Griswold's head. She's sat in the desk behind his every 
year since third grade. So, when the school counselor suggests Payton try an unorthodox exercise involving a focus object, Payton chooses something with which she's very familiar - Sean's extra-large noggin. It's a strange assignment, for sure, but it seems to be working. As long as Payton's zeroing in on Sean, she can forget about the thing that's really bugging her: her dad's multiple sclerosis (MS).
The more time Payton spends observing Sean, the more she realizes that, for all the time they've spent sitting near each other, she doesn't really know him. When she decide
s to broaden her research to include more than just Sean's head, Payton discovers the boy's totally stalk-worthy. Not only is he nice, but he's cute, interesting and even a little mysterious. As Payton gets to know him better, Sean becomes less of a science experiment and more of a friend, a friend with a whole lot of potential to be more.
While focusing on Sean distracts Payton from her problems at home, it doesn't erase what's happening to her dad. She still can't deal with that. It's only when things really start to fall apart that she's forced to face everything she's been avoiding. Now she'll have to focus on the one thing she's been trying to avoid all along: the truth.
Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt is one of those issue novels that doesn't necessarily feel like an issue novel. It's about an issue, yes, and a serious one, but it manages to stay upbeat and funny while still addressing a teen's very real feelings about her dad's illness. It avoids cheesy melodrama, dealing with Payton's emotions in a way that remains authentic and true. Since I can't say it any better than this, I'm going to sum it all up with a line I stole from Melissa's excellent review over at Book Nut: "[Sean Griswold's Head is] sweet without being cloying, a disease book without being issue-y. Gotta love that." See what I mean? And, for the record, I completely agree.
(Readalikes: Sort of reminded me of After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Princess for Hire A Fun, Fresh, Cliche-Busting Debut
(Image from Barnes & Noble)It's pretty much a given that any book bearing a bright pink cover littered with frou-frou is going to be a little girly. Even if it is an anti-princess book like Lindsey Leavitt's Princess for Hire. I mean, seriously, no guy's going to come within 10 feet of this thing. Young girls, however, they're going to be lining up just for a peek. And well they should - this debut novel is fun, original, and delightfully cliche-bending.
Our heroine is Desi Bascomb, a teenager from Nowhere (okay, Sproutville) Idaho, who dreams of a life filled with the kind of glamour only found in old movies starring people like Audrey Hepburn and Paul Newman. Instead, she's stuck at the mall hounding out coupons in a groundhog suit. Even out of the ridiculous costume, she's scorned - her father helped convict a popular girl's dad, leading to the rapid death of Desi's social life. All Desi wants to do is sink into a bathtub full of bubbles and forget her troubles.Luxuriating in the tub doesn't turn out to be quite as relaxing as Desi had hoped. Before she even has time to lather up, a strange lady pops out of a giant bubble. To Desi's utter amazement, the woman invites her to join an agency that provides doubles for princesses around the world. Playing royalty beats impersonating a groundhog any day. Desi takes the job, ecstatic to finally let a little dazzle into her humdrum life.
It doesn't take long for Desi to realize that the princess dress-up gig isn't quite as enchanting as it sounds. In fact, the job is turning into a royal pain. As she's whisked from assignment to assignment, Desi has to face problems that are a lot more complicated than choosing which tiara to wear to the ball: There's a conniving older sister to deal with, a wandering prince to win over, and an angry mob of cannibalistic tribal members to outrun. And she has to do it all under the critical eye of her sourpuss agent. Living in spudville hasn't exactly endowed Desi with courtly manners, but it's given her a much more powerful kind of magic - the ability to think for herself. Quick decision-making and swift action are the two things that are going to save Desi's hide. Or get her sent straight back to Idaho.
Princess for Hire tells the familiar story of a young girl who longs for more than her pedestrian existence. I expected Desi to follow the cliche by hopping into a fairy tale world, discovering that palace life is not all it's cracked up to be, and springing back to her own land content to be the mere commoner she's always been. Nope. Leavitt busts the cliche wide open, allowing for a very broad definition of the term "princess." Her story takes us to surprising venues, forci
ng Desi to grapple with problems we never see coming, providing a nice, fresh take on the whole tired princess theme.
ng Desi to grapple with problems we never see coming, providing a nice, fresh take on the whole tired princess theme. At times, I feel like Leavitt tries a little to hard to be funny, but otherwise, this is a charming book that will appeal to girls of all ages. Guys? Not so much.
(Readalikes: This isn't the kind of book I typically read, so nothing's coming to mind. Any ideas?)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG - While I consider this a clean book, it's more appropriate for older middle-graders (say, 10+) only because it uses some terms I wouldn't want to have to explain to a younger child (love triangle, panty lines, etc.).
To the FTC, with love: I received this book from the generous folks at Disney/Hyperion. Thank you!
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Sweet Spot by Kemper Donovan4 hours ago
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Grab my Button!
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2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction
2020 - Middle Grade Fiction
