Review: Princess for Hire

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

Synopsis (From back cover): When a flawlessly dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and wants to know, like, now if you’d like to become a substitute princess, do you
           a) run
           b) faint
           c) say Yes!
For Desi Bascomb, who’s been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C–that is, once she can stop pinching herself. As her new agent Meredith explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula “Royal Rouge,” she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?

Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don’t know? Or when a princess’s conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off–and you know she would want you to change his mind?

In this hilarious, winning debut, one girl’s dream of glamour transforms into something bigger: the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact

I liked the idea of Princess for Hire ever since I heard it mentioned in the debut authors list for 2010, after all, what little girl didn't want to be a princess? Desi is a fun character to follow, and you can immediately tell that she's bored with her life and wants a change, but she didn't think that change would come from a want ad in the newspaper or woman travelling in giant bubbles.

The story is fast paced and I was there wishing Desi would succeed as she subbed for each princess. The story is a bit predictable in parts, but it's a good one to curl up in bed and read for pure enjoyment. The story idea itself was an original take and I loved some of the gadgets that are present that mixes magic with science.

Leavitt has a fun story here, which I can't wait until the next one.

Cover: The American cover is what originally grabbed my attention (the one at the top). It has the elegance of royalty which is what the story is about, but it also hints as to what is involved in the story. I was stoked to find this story available in Australia, but it was released with the UK cover which I didn't like as much. The cover emphasised a cartoon version of the story, even though the images depict more of what happens in the story.  
Plot: 4/5 stars
Ending: 4/5 stars
US Cover: 4/5 stars
UK Cover: 3/5 stars
Overall: 4/5 stars
Recommend:  Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Debut Author Challenge: #4 of 12