The Princess Diaries: The Graphic Novel by Meg Cabot

Hi my fellow bookworms,

(c) Macmillan Publishers, 2026

Happy Meg Cabot Day! According to Bloomington, Indiana, on July 15, 2004, it has been proclaimed that July 31st will be known as "Meg Cabot Day," as a celebration of her return to Bloomington. Every year since then, Ms. Cabot has been celebrated. This is a great year to celebrate, as she has quite a few new items coming out! Her new graphic novel based on the first The Princess Diaries book, an adult witchy rom-com titled The Magic We Made, a middle school graphic novel titled Detective Baby, a reissue of the fun When Lightning Strikes book titled Vanished, and another fun adult romance titled Kissing Cowboys. What a busy year!

This past summer I was able to meet Meg Cabot, who is one of my favorite authors, at the American Library Association Annual Convention! The convention is an annual meeting of librarians, library staff, vendors, authors, publishers, and more to come together, learn from, teach, and celebrate books and libraries in general! It is a really fun and informative experience. Finding out that Meg Cabot was going to be there in person? An added bonus! I've written posts about her previously, including when I received a signed letter in the mail. This time, I was able to talk to her in person, take a photo, AND receive a copy of her new graphic novel based on the first book in its series, The Princess Diaries: The Graphic Novel. 

Illustrated by Bethany Crandall, this graphic novel is colorful and lively. While it is definitely dedicated to a younger, middle school and early-teen crowd, those who have loved the series over the years will feel a sense of nostalgia while reading. It is definitely be a blast to the past (think early 2000's) for millennials. I may or may not have been listening to The Princess Diaries movie soundtrack while reading. Even so, I know it will draw in a new generation of young readers who will enjoy Princess Mia's journey.

For those new to the series, this is the story of Mia Thermopolis, a tall, frizzy-haired freshman who is struggling through algebra and not the most-popular at her school. She does, however, have a best friend named Lily Moscovitz, and a group of friends in her gifted and talented class. Her cat, Fat Louie, likes to eat socks. Her mom and dad are divorced. Her mom is currently dating her algebra teacher, which makes Mia's life just a little weird (at least to her). Her dad comes back in the picture to let her know that he is not just a politician, but the crown prince of Genovia, and that Mia is next in line for the throne! Thus begins a story of princess lessons, teenage (and Grandmère-related) drama, and an overall fun read. Please note that the Disney movie series has a slightly different plot, so if you haven't read the original series, you may be surprised by the differences! 

I highly recommend The Princess Diaries: The Graphic Novel for middle school ages and up! Especially for those who wanted to be a princess growing up. :)

In line waiting to meet Meg Cabot!!
(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger), 2026

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About the Author: Meg Cabot

(c) Meg Cabot, 2026

Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign, but learned at an early age that a good storyteller can always give herself a happy ending. Her 100+ books for both adults and tweens/teens have included multiple #1 New York Times bestsellers, selling over twenty-five million copies worldwide. Her Princess Diaries series has been published in more than 38 countries, and despite being made into multiple feature films by Disney, has been banned in multiple school libraries in the United States due to its message of female empowerment. Meg’s numerous other award-winning books include The Mediator series, The Witches of West Harbor series, and Avalon High, the later of which was made into a film for Disney Channel. Meg Cabot (her last name rhymes with habit, as in “her books can be habit forming”) currently lives in Key West with her husband and various cats.

About the Illustrator: Bethany Crandall

(c) Bethany Crandall, 2026

Bethany Crandall is an Illustrator and designer based in Burbank California. Bethany has worked illustrating children’s books and illustrating for magazines. She has also worked doing designs for children’s television. Bethany studied at Brigham Young University Idaho and graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in illustration. She enjoys drawing and reading. You can follow her on social media at https://www.instagram.com/bethanycrandallart/?hl=en. You can contact her at bethanycrandallart@gmail.com. 

Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West

Hi my fellow bookworms,

(c) Kasie West & St. Martin's Publishing Group, 2026

Today I am happy to share with you my review of Kasie West's Stranger Things Have Happened. Thank you to St. Martin's Press Group for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy ("ARC")!

I have long awaited this contemporary romance novel, as I have been a fan of Ms. West's Young Adult ("YA") fiction. I am very much a fan of her YA novels, such as The Fill-In Boyfriend, Love Life & the List, and Lucky in Love, to name a few. While Stranger Things Have Happened is technically her second adult novel, following We Met Like This, it is a standalone novel that will make you melt, laugh, and just feel good! 

The story starts with Sutton, a woman back in her hometown taking care of her mom, who just had a serious accident. Acting as her mom's caretaker, Sutton is away from her work -- running a new restaurant and struggling to keep it afloat. Unfortunately, just as she arrives in her old hometown, her boyfriend breaks up with her over the phone, her restaurant partner says the business is experiencing problems, and her mom says the other caretakers are better at taking care of her than she is. What a predicament! Lost in a stupor, Sutton bumps into her best friend from high school, Tara, Tara's fiancé, Michael, and Michael's brother, Elijah. Upon reuniting with her once-best friend, Sutton finds out that Tara wants to attend couples therapy with Michael before tying the knot. Michael, however, is against therapy. Tara enlists the help of Sutton, making a bet to attend for Sutton to attend couples therapy with Elijah. If the therapist realizes they are not a couple, Michael will attend therapy with Tara. If the therapist does not realize it, Sutton must sing karaoke live in front of a crowd (her worst nightmare). 

And so begins a fun rom-com full of spicy hi-jinks, real-life worries like parent-child expectations, and a brief mention of how therapy can actually help you navigate life. While the book used therapy as a premise for Sutton and Elijah to date, it was not discussed at length to distract from the plot. I actually wish that there was more of a mention (perhaps an afterword?) of how therapy can and does help both individuals and couples navigate life in a healthy way. But personal opinions of mental health aside, if you are in the mood for a fun romance (especially if you are at the beach this summer), I highly recommend Kasie West's Stranger Things Have Happened! Given the spicy content, I recommend this title for new adults and older. 

I also recommend her YA titles, but those are written more for a younger crowd. So, if you are looking for more a clean, contemporary romance with happy vibes and cute romance tropes? Look no further! Kasie West is your author!

About the Author: Kasie West

(c) Kasie West, 2026

Kasie West is the author of many YA novels, including Sunkissed, The Fill-In Boyfriend, P.S. I Like You, Better Than Revenge, and Pivot Point. Her books have been named ALA-YALSA Quick Picks, Junior Library Guild Selections, and ALA-YALSA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults. We Met Like This is her debut adult novel. When she's not writing, she's binge-watching television, devouring books, or is on the Central Coast, burying her toes in the sand. Kasie lives in Fresno, California, with her family. 

From the author's website: How It All Started

Back in 2011, when I could still eat gluten and dairy, I sent a query letter to Michelle Wolfson for the fourth (or fifth, I can’t remember exactly) book I wrote, Pivot Point (we will never again refer to the three or four books I wrote previously, except to say, they were practice books and will stay in the depths of an old laptop that is now in a drawer somewhere in my house). Michelle offered me representation and not long after that, HarperTeen bought my book! Through a combination of lots of writing and lots of work and lots of luck, I’ve been able to publish many books since then. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity. And forever grateful to the readers who continue to read and share my books. Thank you!