Review: Take Two by Meg Cabot

Take Two by Meg Cabot
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Format: e-book
Series: Princess Diaries #2
Pages: 224
Date Finished: 03.06.15
Rating: 4/5
Summary: 14-year-old Mia Thermopolis is still coming to terms with the fact that she’s a princess – and heir to the throne of Genovia! But when she announces on national TV that her mum is pregnant by her algebra teacher and plans to marry him, a right-royal fuss results! For now Mia’s dreadful old Grandmere is all set to plan the year’s biggest society wedding, with every A-list celeb invited, from the Reagans to Phil Collins. But will the bride and groom turn up?

Let me tell you a story. Almost five years ago, I was an eleven year old just discovering the wonder known as the school library. My friends recommended me a book series and I tentatively decided to pick it up. This series was The Princess Diaries.

Along with the Confessions of Georgia Nicholson, this series is the one that reminds me so strongly of my first year of secondary school. My last exam is next Friday, and then it'll all be over, but it's actually kind of nice to relive my first moments at school. Though, lets not relive the first book recommendations I had (my friend gave me Twilight and the first time I read it... I liked it *shudders* Never again) I decided to reread this series because the eleventh book was just released, and I'm so glad that I did.

I remember gasping with my friends when they mentioned sex no matter how lightly, and I remember finishing a Princess Diaries book in a single night, and then finishing another the next. True, I haven't been in the school library for years, and I don't really talk to some of those friends who I shared this series with. That doesn't matter, because I just love it.

What does it matter that it is not a linear equation if any variable is raised to a power? 

We're all going to die anyway. 

This book is utterly hilarious. Yes, it's an extremely fictionalised version of reality, but I found myself laughing and relating to the jokes. Whilst Mia is prone to make stupid decisions, I just love her and all the characters so much. I love the references to feminism, and I love that there is a diverse cast that doesn't consist of supermodels.

I think I prefer the first instalment in the series a little more, but I just flew through this. It's so fast paced and addictive, and is definitely the best way to spend procrastinating a maths exam. Some things are a little predictable, but I just love it. I really do.

"Sorry about that," he said. "But do you really think you'd be happy, Mia, being Nancy Normal Teenager?" 

Um. Yes. Except I wouldn't want my name to be Nancy. 

This book isn't perfect. It's not deep or profound, but I don't think that it needs to be. There is a very subtle message to it, but it's written so you won't notice it at all whilst reading. I think that Cabot is trying to express that it is okay to be yourself no matter how much of a 'freak' you are, and that there you'll always make mistakes.

On the topic of flaws, there wasn't nearly enough of Fat Louis, Mia's cat, in this book. Seriously, Louis where you at?

Mia's Grandmere just got better in Take Two. She's perfectly tyrannous (with heart, of course) but she showed a slightly different side to herself at the end. Almost. Okay not really, but it was close enough.

It is horrifying enough to see a person wearing fur, but it is a thousand times worse to see an animal wearing another animals fur. 

I definitely want to read the rest of the series, and I'm so excited to return to the brief memories of these books that I have. From what I can remember they keep on getting better and better, and the books grow with Mia.

I'm finding it hard to do a normal review because this series is making me feel so nostalgic, and I'm sorry if you wanted something that talked about the book in a bit more detail.

Let me say this: Take Two is a hilarious book with a lot of heart. You get to see more of the characters that you love from the first book, and see Mia make even more mistakes. Oh yes.

If you're looking for something deep, this series isn't for you. But, if you want something in a similar vein to Geek Girl or The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson, pick up this series. The second book won't disappoint.