Review: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?, Melissa Kantor

Release date: September 2005

Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 283

Author's website

Wicked stepmother? Check. Evil stepsisters? Check. Miserable life? Check.

Lucy Norton’s life has all the makings of a Cinderella story. Her dad’s always away on business, leaving Lucy with her cruel stepmother and bratty stepsisters. She’s burdened with chores, and has a hard time fitting in at her new school. So when she sees Connor Pearson, the star player on the varsity basketball team, Lucy hopes her destiny has finally changed. With everything else going on in her life, doesn’t she at least deserve to get the handsome prince?

 This book was published a couple years back, but it's a goodie. I love Cinderella plot lines, mainly because it gives us uncool, less-prettier girls some hope that we, too, can get the coolest guy in school. Come on, admit it! :)

Lucy is a tall, red-headed art lover who moved to New York seven months ago, and still has no friends. Her father's married Mara, Lucy very own wicked stepmother, and now Lucy has step sisters-- twins, actually. So she, like every other girl in school, totally wants to catch Connor Pearson's attention-- and that happens when he and his friends sit down at the same table where she's sitting at lunch and one of the guys makes a comment about how the Chicago basketball team will beat the LA one. Lucy is also in love with basketball, and a huge follower of the LA team, so she disagrees. And Connor notices how cool she is... you know, 'cause she likes basketball.

So their romance starts, and throughout Lucy starts hanging out with this guy called Sam Wolff-- a fellow art geek. Ooh-la-la, we all know where this will go.

I really liked this book. It's funny and brings out emotions--  especially frustration at Lucy's new family. Her stepmother Mara is kind of a bitch who can't see past her reflection, and her stepsisters are those stereotypical girls who are obsessed with clothes, hair, makeup and what they look like. Very superficial. I was also frustrated at how Connor kept calling Lucy 'Red' because of her hair colour. I don't think he called her by her name once in the book. As well as Lucy's new friends, Jessica and Madison. They started being friends with her only after she and Connor hooked up. Maybe it's just me, but I'm sick of the whole 'uncool girl suddenly becomes popular because she's dating the hottest guy in school' thing.

This book is really good, and I couldn't put it down. It's interesting-- despite the over-used plot line-- funny, sad, happy, and best of all: it has a happily ever after... kind of. They're teenagers. I'm sure they'll breakup in a couple of years.

My verdict: A kind of oldie (6 years old), but a goodie. For anyone who's looking for a fluffy, light-hearted read that won't take too long to finish.