Remembrance by Meg Cabot

Title: Remembrance (The Mediator #7)

Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: February 2, 2016

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Fifteen years after the release of the first Mediator novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot return with a deliciously sexy new entry to a fan-favorite series. Suze Simon—all grown up and engaged to her once-ghostly soulmate—faces a vengeful spirit and an old enemy bent on ending Suze’s wedded bliss before it begins.

You can take the boy out of the darkness. 

But you can’t take the darkness out of the darkness.

All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva). 

But when she’s hired as guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight.

From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child, to hosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone her wedding night.

Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including once she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?

What happens when old hosts come back to haunt you?

If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.

There are some books out there that I feel like I have been waiting forever to get to read. Meg Cabot’s Remembrance is most definitely one of those books. A book by my favourite author in one of my favourite series? How could I possibly not be excited about this book? And no matter how high my expectations were, this story most definitely lived up to them.

Something you might know about me if you’ve been following my blog for quite some time: Meg Cabot is absolutely, without a doubt, one of the reasons I read. Oh and she’s totally at the top of my list when it comes to my favourite authors. And her Mediator series? Some of my all time favourite books featuring what is probably the first couple I ever shipped. Though that might be Michael and Mia from the Princess Diaries. Or Jess and Rob from the 1-800-Where-R-You series. Seeing a trend here? If you haven’t picked up on it, what all those couples have in common is they were written by Meg Cabot. I spent all of middle and high school reading Meg Cabot’s books and to this day, they remain some of my favourites. So a couple years ago, when it was announced that there would be a seventh book in the Mediator series featuring grown up Suze and Jesse? There was definitely excitement on my part. Probably some (loud) squealing. Maybe even some excited jumping around. Possibly some full on excited yelling. 

Once I calmed down from my excitement, it proceeded to feel like the longest wait EVER until we all got more information about this book. But then somewhere in the middle of that, the news about the new Princess Diaries book came along (and there was a repeat of the excitement I mentioned above--sometimes I wonder how my roommates put up with my excited yelling about books on a weekly basis) and that tied me over. And then one glorious day in December 2015, I got UNBELIEVABLY lucky and was able to read Remembrance early. It was one of those drop-everything-must-read-this-book-right-at-this-very-moment-but-I-should-wait-to-make-the-fun-last-longer-but-I-don’t-care-I’m-reading-this-NOW moments. And, guys, Remembrance was absolute perfection. I started reading, and it felt like barely any time had passed since the last time I read a Mediator book (which I think was when I was a high school senior, for those curious). I was able to jump right back into the awesomeness that is Suze Simon and her ghost ass-kicking ways. It was just like seeing old friends again after a long time, but even better. I don’t even know how to put into words how awesome Remembrance was and how amazing a job Meg Cabot did giving fans a story about characters they love.

And let me take a moment to talk about Suze and everyone else in her life. As much as I remember loving these books when I was a teenager, I didn’t remember how much Suze would make me laugh with her inner dialogue and the way she reacts to everything that happens in her life. It was absolutely amazing getting to know her again as an adult in her early/mid twenties trying to make sense of life. And how could I have possibly ever forgotten how freaking dreamy Jesse de Silva was? Alive, grown-up, soon-to-be doctor Jesse? Even dreamier. And, honestly, I will be shipping Suze and Jesse together until the end of time. They are perfect together and I just want them to be happy and keep being together and I would absolutely keep reading about them just doing regular stuff forever. I just love them that much. But it wasn’t just Suze and Jesse that were around, all the characters that I loved from the original six books, and even that I didn’t love so much (*cough* Paul Slater *cough*) were around and putting a smile on my face. And Suze’s triplet nieces? They kind of stole the show. And I’m kinda hoping for a next generation Mediator book (books?) with them, kinda like is happening with the Princess Diaries series. Because I would totally read that. In a freaking heartbeat.

If you’ve made it through this majorly ramble-y review, you are awesome and I love you. Now if you’ve never read the Mediator series, you should really get on that. If you have, get yourself to a bookstore pronto because you need to be reading Remembrance, like yesterday. And then come back and tell me how awesome it was and I’ll be here to tell you, “I told you so.”

Oh, and I’ll be waiting and crossing any available limbs int eh hope that Meg Cabot gives us all more books about Suze and Jesse.

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

Title: Royal Wedding (The Princess Diaries #11)

Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher: William Morrow & Company

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding—but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.

For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements, Mia’s gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael has managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn’t need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother’s leaked “fake” wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia’s father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone—especially herself—that she’s not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?

Meg Cabot is one of two authors who are responsible for me reading YA. And even after all these years, the Princess Diaries series still remains one of my all time favourites. When I found out that a new book would be coming out in the series, I was a whole new kind of excited. Having now read, Royal Wedding, I can say that my excitement was more than justified.

Mia has spent the five years since she graduated from college doing her duty as the Royal Princess of Genovia and running her teen community center. And being in love with Michael of course. But with her twenty-sixth birthday right around the corner, everything is threatening to fall apart. Her father is arrested for reckless driving, protesters are camping out in front of the Genevan Consulate, and paparazzi are constantly hounding Mia. The only bright spot is Michael, the love of her life. Except the tabloids are trying to ruin that too by publishing story after story about why Michael won’t marry Mia. But that all changes when Michael proposes on an exotic romantic getaway and Mia couldn’t be more excited to say yes. Until they return to the city and find out Mia’s grandmother has leaked the proposal to story to the press in the hope of hiding another royal secret. With everything being close to falling apart once again, Mia has to step up and prove to everyone that she’s ready not just to marry Michael, but to become the ruling Princess of Genovia.

Here’s something you might not know about me. Meg Cabot is one of my all-time favourite authors and I’ve been reading her books since I was 12 years old. So I’ve spent literally half of my life reading her books. I can still remember when I picked up the first book in the Princess Diaries and immediately got hooked. And then I read all the ones that were out, until I hit the point where I had to wait for the next one to be published. The last time I read a Princess Diaries book was my senior year of high school. And I hadn’t realized until I started reading Royal Wedding, just how much I had missed reading these books, and Meg Cabot stories in general. Royal Wedding was exactly what I had hoped it would be. I loved being thrown back into the Princess Diaries world, with all the characters I had grown to love over the course of the previous ten books. Honestly, the story could have been about anything and I would have read it, just to be back with all these people. As it was, the story made me so incredibly happy. I’m pretty sure I had a goofy smile on my face the whole time I was reading. There were even moments when I couldn’t help but full on laugh out loud (thankfully, I was home and not somewhere I would be getting weird looks) because that’s just how awesome, and obviously funny, the story was. And there were even a few times when I found myself to be tearing up because things were happening that made me emotional in the best way possible. Before I started, I had no doubt that I would love Royal Wedding, but I’m so incredibly happy that I loved it as much as I did.

Reading a new story about Mia, Michael, Lilly and everyone else was like being reunited with old friends. It took no time at all for me to get reacquainted with them all. Mia was still her adorably quirky and slightly nutty and hypochondria self and I loved reading her diary once again. And she was just like I remembered her. Just the grown up version. Which, obviously, because it’s been 6 years since the last book. And much like Mia was just like I remembered her, so were the other people in this story. Her grandmother is just as crazy as ever, if not even slightly crazier. Michael is still adorable and totally willing to do whatever for Mia. Tina is just as obsessed with romance novels as she’s always been. And Lilly was still her outspoken, take no bullshit from anyone self. So yeah, it was just like old times with the whole gang back together. And honestly, that’s what I loved most about Royal Wedding. The fact that I got to spend a short amount of time with these characters that I spent so many years reading about. And it felt like no time had gone by at all. 

If you are a fan of Meg Cabot and the original Princess Diaries books, then Royal Wedding is an absolutely must-read. It was just like the books you read all those years ago, just with more references to sex and drinking. And it was absolutely amazing. 

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Title: Abandon (Abandon #1)

Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher: Point

Release Date: April 26, 2011

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Pierce knows what it's like to die, because she's done it before.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone…because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back. 

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid. 

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away…especially since he always appears when she lest expects it, but exactly when she needs him the most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Meg Cabot is really close to the top of my list on my list of favorite authors so whenever she has a new book coming out, I make sure to read it. I have yet to read one of her books and not enjoy it and this didn’t change with Abandon. It was a great story and a book I loved reading.

On the surface, Pierce appears to be a girl just like anyone else. But there’s one thing that makes her different, she died and came back to life. Ever since that event, Pierce hasn’t been the same. She can’t seem to focus on anything and keeps on getting herself in trouble. And then there’s John, the mysterious boy she first met as a child and again when she died. Now he just seems to show up whenever there’s trouble around. Now in Florida trying to make a fresh start, Pierce once again finds herself getting in trouble without really meaning to and once again John appears to save the day. Maybe now Pierce will finally get a chance to understand what is happening in her life.

Meg Cabot is an amazing writer. The way she writes makes it so the reader is drawn into the story right from the start and keeps you in until the very end. It was no different with Abandon. While it didn’t have as much of the trademark humor I normally love in Meg Cabot books, it was still a great story and one I highly enjoyed. I knew the broad likes of the Persephone myth on which the story is based but not in great detail. The way in which it is retold in the books was great. The way in which it was written makes it so you never really knew what was going on with Pierce and John until it was all laid out. And that is the kind of story I love.

I loved getting to know Pierce. She was a really interesting character and there was never a dull moment with her. She always managed to find herself in the most impossible situations and I never really knew how she even got there in the first place. She kept me highly entertained throughout the book. John was mysterious to say the least. It practically took me the entire book to figure him out and even now I’m not sure I’ve completely figured him out. I just can’t seem to decide if he’s a good guy or bad boy. Maybe in the next book I’ll finally be able to make up my mind about him.

Overall, Abandon was another great book by Meg Cabot. Like I said, I’ve yet to read one of her books and not enjoy it. Hopefully this will continue in the future with the next book in the Abandon trilogy. 

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Title: Insatiable (Insatiable #1)

Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: June 8, 2010

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper

But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them.

Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die. (Not that you’re going to believe her. No one ever does.)

But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets - and then makes the mistake of falling in love with - Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a pit of a dark side. It’s a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, Lucien’s already dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able to look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare. 

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own futures...

If she even has one.

I’ve always been quite partial to anything written by Meg Cabot. I’ll be honest and say straight out that I’ve read just about every one of her YA novels and a great number of the adult novels as well. Wherever Meg Cabot is concerned I always have certain expectations and with Insatiable those expectations were met and in some places surpassed. I’ve never been disappointed by any of her books and this one just fell in line with the others.

The story follows Meena Harper, a young dialogue writer for the soap opera, Insatiable, in New York City. She lives with her recently unemployed older brother, Jon, and dog, Jack Bauer named after the main character from the TV show 24. Meena’s life isn’t what she wants it to be: she was just passed up on a promotion at work, her excessively perky next-door-neighbor is constantly trying to set her up with men from her husband’s office, and her boss wants to have vampires on the show. Basically she’s having a really bad week and it only seems to be getting worse, until she meets Lucien. What she doesn’t know is that though her life may seem to be improving, appearances can often be deceiving.

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, I just love Meg Cabot. Ever since I picked up the first Princess Diaries years ago I’ve been hooked on her books. Every time a new one came out I just had to have it and it’s been like that for years now. I honestly couldn’t wait for Insatiable to come out. I mean, who wouldn’t? Meg Cabot had written a book with vampires in them, who in their right mind would pass up on that? I had many expectations when I started reading the book and by the time I finished the book, most had been met if not exceeded. The plot was entertaining, the characters were great and the novel was overall a great read.

I think one of my favorite part of the book was Meena. She was just a great character that I took great pleasure getting to know. For once the female protagonist in a vampire story wasn’t some weak girl wanting nothing more than to have her boyfriend change her so they can be together forever. It was a refreshing change. Meena was just extremely likable and, knowing when people are going to die put aside, a believable character. Even though the book was written in the third person, I was always looking forward to the chapters where the focus was on Meena. The other characters, though some were not as prominent as others, were also interesting. At first I wasn’t a big fan of Alaric Wulf but I have to say he sort of grew on me. By the end of the book I was looking forward to seeing more of him. The one character I didn’t appreciate as much was Lucien. Even if he was one of the main characters in the novel, and the love of Meena’s life, there was just something about him that I didn’t like.

Overall the story was really good. There were always twists and a lot of action which made the story go by really fast. The only negative point about the story is that it took a good 50 pages or so for the story to really start. I have to admit I found those first 50 pages long but once I got past them and the story really took off it was hard putting the book down.

If you have ever read a Meg Cabot book and liked it you will most definitely also enjoy Insatiable. If you haven’t read any Meg Cabot then I suggest you go to the book store and pick up one of her books, you won’t regret it.