Notebooks of a Middle-School Princess: Bridesmaid-in-Training

Meg Cabot's Notebooks of a Middle-School Princess: Bridesmaid-in-Training is a funny royal diary story for 11 year olds about a girl who's only just discovered she's royal.

What happens

Olivia now lives in the palace in Genovia. She has a pony called Chrissy, a poodle puppy, a personal style consultant and, best of all, a family who actually ask how she slept. After years with an aunt who served oatmeal every single morning, it's heaven.

Now her big sister Mia is getting married in a week. The wedding will be on TV around the world, hardly anything is ready, and Grandmère and Mia can't agree on anything. Olivia is a junior bridesmaid, and she's taking it VERY seriously.

Then she finds out she's starting at the Royal Genovian Academy on Monday. A royal gossip website knew before she did! And her snooty cousin Lady Luisa, who hasn't let Olivia forget saying "kee-yow" for ciao, has been picked to show her round.

It's written as Olivia's notebook, with texts from her best friend Nishi and lists of all the royal rules she's picked up (no gum in public, three sugar lumps is plenty). It's super chatty and very easy to fall into. Olivia is kind, a bit dramatic and full of opinions, and she wants to draw wildlife when she grows up.

Grandmère steals the show though. She fires a bow and arrow at the iguanas eating her hibiscus during high tea (luckily her aim is terrible). She'd also quite like the bridesmaid dresses dyed purple.

Under the jokes, it's about being the new one. New country, new family and a new school where everyone else has been royal forever. Who hasn't dreaded walking into a room where everyone already knows each other?

Olivia's story started in an earlier book, but she fills you in as she goes, so it's easy to jump in here.

What to read next

If they love a funny diary by a girl who'd rather be drawing, try the Dork Diaries book Tales from a Not So Fabulous Life. Nikki is new at a posh private school too, and she's desperate for a phone.