The Secret Life of Prince Charming

Title: The Secret Life of Prince Charming
Author: Deb Caletti
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN-13: 978-1416959403
Published: April 7 2009
Rating: Teen

Maybe it was wrong, or maybe impossible, but I wanted the truth to be one thing. One solid thing.

Quinn is surrounded by women who have had their hearts broken. Between her mother, her aunt, and her grandmother, Quinn hears nothing but cautionary tales. She tries to be an optimist -- after all, she's the dependable one, the girl who never makes foolish choices. But when she is abruptly and unceremoniously dumped, Quinn starts to think maybe there really are no good men.

It doesn't help that she's gingerly handling a renewed relationship with her formerly absent father. He's a little bit of a lot of things: charming, selfish, eccentric, lazy...but he's her dad, and Quinn's just happy to have him around again. Until she realizes how horribly he's treated the many women in his life, how he's stolen more than just their hearts. Determined to, for once, take action in her life, Quinn joins forces with the half sister she's never met and the little sister she'll do anything to protect. Together, they set out to right her father's wrongs...and in doing so, begin to uncover what they're really looking for: the truth. (Amazon.ca)

Okay, so truthfully I have owned Deb Caletti's books for a long time. I have read through The Nature of Jade as well as Wild Roses and they both deserve 5 hearts. I think that I need to be in a certain mood to read and enjoy Deb Caletti's work but that in no way is a reflection on her writing. She writes wonderfully and everytime I read her novels, I think, I smile and sometimes I even want to cry. I just have to be in the mood for a little slower book.

I obviously was in the mood for a slower book and so I chose The Secret Life of Prince Charming. Quinn was a great main character. I felt as if I could identify with some of her thoughts and actions. She talks about divorces and my parents have been through one and I was just nodding along. I have never been in a relationship before and I could even agree with what she saying.

The side characters are also very well fleshed out. I loved Jake even though he didn't get much book time. Grandma was definitely someone who made me laugh and even their dog had a personality. Reading about Quinn's father was disheartening and I kept thinking: "Are some some people really that bad?" I've never met anyone like him. He and her ex-boyfriend are characters I wouldn't want to meet. I would enjoy anyone else's company from the novel.

The main theme(s) throughout the novel are family and men. Men I don't know too much about but the little entries on love from the women in the novel were very interesting. Family was also showcased in the novel and a theme I could relate to. Family isn't just blood but who you believe it to be. I think my best friends are part of my family.

Overall, I loved this novel. I picked it up and finished it in one night. It is a novel where it is easily relatable and one I think teens should pick up.

Here is my copy of The Secret Life of Prince Charming ♥

Saturday Update (1)

Alright so I think that if I put my reading plan up I might actually get through my TBR list. It consists of 24 books and I am hoping to buy Demon Forged - Meljean Brook on Wednesday so it's getting even bigger!

By next Saturday I want:

1. To be done The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti
2. To be done Firestorm by Rachel Caine
3. To begin and finish Demon Forged by Meljean Brook
4. Finally, read and finish either Thin Air by Rachel Caine or another book by Deb Caletti (The Fortunes of Indigo Skye, The Queen of Everything, or Honey, Baby, Sweetheart)

Part of list accomplished thus far:

1. Page 322 of 322. Excited to see ex-girlfriend's opinions. Okay, so that left me smiling. Are there really people out there like Quinn's father?
2. Page 126 of 292. (166) Curious about how David will be with Joanne.
3. Page 432 of 432. (432) Want this book so bad ! AMAZING! Can I have the next one please?
   
4. Page 0 of ?. (?) Obviously contemplative. Will decide when I need to begin it. It will depend on how I feel: Action or something quiet?

So that is the plan. I hope I can at least do the first three. I think I am most excited for Demon Forged. Last weekend I read through all the first four as well as the story from First Blood. It is kind of harder to find the other anthologies and I don't really like buying them.