Books On Board

Princess Diaries Books in Order

  • 24 Books
  • 2000 – 2023 Published

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Reading order
2 of 2 reading orders shown

How to Read The Princess Diaries: The Recommended Chronological Order

While you can read the main numbered novels on their own, Meg Cabot wrote several crucial novellas that slot directly between the mainline books. Reading these in chronological order ensures you do not miss major character milestones, such as Mia's first real royal winter holiday or her sweet sixteen party. Here is the recommended chronological reading order for the complete series, including decimal placements:

  1. The Princess Diaries (Book 1)
  2. Princess in the Spotlight (Book 2 — also published as Take Two or A Royal Disaster)
  3. Princess in Love (Book 3 — also published as Princess in the Middle)
  4. Princess in Waiting (Book 4 — also published as Royally Obsessed)
  5. Project Princess (Book 4.5 — Mia's spring break build project)
  6. Princess in Pink (Book 5 — also published as Prom Princess)
  7. Princess in Training (Book 6 — also published as Sixsational)
  8. The Princess Present (Book 6.5 — a Genovian winter holiday tale)
  9. Party Princess (Book 7 — also published as Royal Rebel)
  10. Sweet Sixteen Princess (Book 7.5 — Mia's birthday disaster)
  11. Valentine Princess (Book 7.75 — a flashback story that chronologically fits right after Book 7, although published later)
  12. Princess on the Brink (Book 8 — also published as After Eight or Royal Scandal)
  13. Princess Mia (Book 9 — also published as To the Nines or Bad Heir Day)
  14. Forever Princess (Book 10 — also published as Ten Out of Ten or Crowning Glory)
  15. Royal Wedding (Book 11 — Mia's adult sequel featuring her wedding preparations)
  16. The Quarantine Princess Diaries (Book 12 — Mia's pandemic-era diaries, released in 2023)

Understanding regional title changes

One of the biggest hurdles for readers is the massive difference between the US and UK/international editions. Meg Cabot's publishers released the books with entirely different titles outside North America. If you are shopping for physical copies online, be careful not to accidentally buy the same book twice under two different names! For example, if you have read Princess in the Spotlight, you have already read Take Two. If you own Forever Princess, you already own Ten Out of Ten. Stick to the chronological volume numbering to avoid confusion.

The Spin-Offs: Middle School and Adult Fiction

The Princess Diaries universe expanded significantly after the publication of the tenth book. If you want to keep reading about the royal family of Genovia, there are two distinct spin-offs you should know about:

From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess

This middle-grade spin-off series centers on Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison, Mia's long-lost half-sister who discovers her own royal lineage. Mia appears as a supporting character, and the timeline overlaps directly with the events leading up to and during Royal Wedding. The recommended reading order for this subseries is:

  • From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess (2015)
  • Royal Day Out (2016 — a digital short story)
  • Royal Wedding Disaster (2016)
  • Royal Crush (2017)
  • Royal Crown (2018)

Ransom My Heart: Mia's Fictional Romance Novel

In the tenth mainline book, Forever Princess, Mia spends her senior year writing a historical romance novel as her senior project. In a brilliant marketing move, Meg Cabot published the actual novel, Ransom My Heart, under the author name "Mia Thermopolis" (with Cabot's name printed as a 'help' credit). It is a fun, lighthearted adult historical romance that Mia fans will love, and all real-world author proceeds were donated to Greenpeace, keeping in line with Mia's environmental activism.

Companion Books and Royal Guides

Meg Cabot also published several non-narrative companion books designed to immerse readers further into the Genovian universe. These are not required to follow the plot of Mia's high school years, but they offer fun in-universe advice, trivia, and Christmas traditions:

  • The Secret Princess Diaries (2003)
  • The Princess Diaries Guide to Life (2003)
  • Princess Lessons (2003)
  • Mia's Christmas (2004)
  • Perfect Princess (2004)
  • Princess Files (2004)
  • The Princess Diaries Guide to Christmas (2005)
  • Holiday Princess (2005)

What to Know Before You Start: Book vs. Movie Differences

If you are coming to the series as a fan of the iconic Disney film adaptations starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews, you should prepare for some major differences in the source material. First, Mia's father, Prince Philippe, is alive in the novels (he has survived testicular cancer, which left him sterile and makes Mia the sole heir to the throne). Second, Genovia is a principality rather than a kingdom, meaning Mia's title is technically Her Serene Highness rather than Her Royal Highness. Finally, Grandmere is not the gentle, elegant queen portrayed by Julie Andrews. In the books, Clarisse Renaldi is a formidable, sharp-tongued, chain-smoking, sidecar-drinking grandmother who frequently manipulates Mia's life, creating much of the story's hilarious conflict.

Frequently Asked

Can I read the Princess Diaries books as standalones?

No, it is highly recommended to read them in order. The series features long-term narrative arcs, character growth, and continuing relationship dynamics that build directly from one book to the next.

Where does the book series end?

The original high school series ends with Forever Princess (Book 10). However, the story continues with Royal Wedding (Book 11), which follows Mia as an adult, and The Quarantine Princess Diaries (Book 12), published in 2023.

Are the Princess Diaries novellas necessary to understand the main plot?

While they are not strictly mandatory to understand the basic plot, novellas like Project Princess and The Princess Present contain important milestones, like Mia's first trip to Genovia and key relationship developments.

Why do some Princess Diaries books have multiple titles?

The series was published with different titles in the US and the UK/international markets to appeal to local audiences. For example, the second book is called Princess in the Spotlight in the US but was released as Take Two or A Royal Disaster in the UK.

Is Ransom My Heart a real book?

Yes, Ransom My Heart was published in the real world under the fictional authorship of Mia Thermopolis (with Meg Cabot). It is the adult historical romance novel that Mia writes as her senior project in Forever Princess.