The era of princesses as demure ladies with nothing better to do than sit around getting rescued is long gone - modern princesses learn combat and go on heroic adventures! To her mother’s despair, however, Princess Valeria is not one of those modern princesses. She’s a fat, leisurely young woman who’s more interested in desserts than anything else, and it’s starting to look like she’ll never find a husband. The queen packs her daughter off to the Royal Riviera Academy of Fighting Arts in the hopes that they’ll force her into shape, but the plan backfires - Valeria ends up spending every moment she can in the royal kitchens, putting her culinary knowledge to good use and dazzling the chefs. And it’s there in the kitchen that she catches the prince’s eye.

I’m kind of on the fence about whether this is good body positive representation or not. On one hand, Valeria is a fat princess who gets her dream job and a happily ever after and a handsome prince who falls in love with her smile without any kind of redemption-through-weight-loss arc. On the other hand, the narrative really makes a huge deal about her weight - there are mulitple mentions of her size on every page, she gets into some embarrassing situations because of it and some people (especially her mother) are very unkind about her looks, and I can easily imagine that bothering some readers.

I read this book during a very stressful time and it was exactly what I needed in that moment: quick, undemanding and fluffy as a cloud. I flat-out adore it, but for reasons that have nothing to do with its quality as literature and everything to do with the buttons it pushes in my id. ( )

I love all of Aya Ling's stories. They are such fun reads and this one did not disappoint. I can't wait to read more!

If you are a fan of twists on the usual princess stories, the one where the princesses are more than just the side characters to be saved by the prince, then this story is for you! Valeria is such a fun and spunky character! She is not your common demure and "fit" princess. Lots of laughs and fun in Princesses Don't Get Fat.

I recommend this author and this book. ( )

http://romancing-the-book.com/2014/06/review-princesses-dont-get-fat-by-aya-ling...

Review: Do what makes you happy. To be happy you have to have the strength to love who you are. Be comfortable in your own body.

I think that this is a good story for young girls that are having issues with their body…their weight…self-esteem and everything else that they deal with daily in a world where we are told that we have to be size 0.

Princess Valeria deals with these issues daily because her mother lets her no that no prince will want a fat wife. Valeria loves food and sweets. She may be at an unhealthy weight by most standards but she doesn’t care. It is drilled into her head that she is or will be if she doesn’t stop eating undesirable and ineligible. In other words she will be passed up by all the decent princes.

I enjoyed the short story that gets right to the problem and shows not a girl that is fat but a girl that goes against what is normal showing that you don’t have to starve yourself to be happy. She shows us a young woman with a strong character, confidence, inner strength and happiness in who she is. Ms. Ling brings to us a lovable character that proves to be a good role model for young girls struggling with who they are. She shows that being a plus size isn’t the end it is and can be the beginning. There is hope.

Boyfriends or potential husbands…Valeria had allot of chemistry with Prince Ralph; which shows you don’t have to be skinny to get that hot guy.

This is a humorous take on growing up as a princess who is not like all the others but someone that is a plus size. I found the romance although it was there was a little shaky but I was able to overlook it as to me it was just an added bonus within the story line. It wasn’t the main theme. Details within the frame of the story tended to be a bit vague at times but overall it was easy to overlook. The characters were very likable and easy to identify with making this a very enjoyable clean story of hope. ( )

This is a very cute story that I think young ladies (middle graders and tweens) would enjoy. The main character’s thoughts and reactions to the situations she found herself brought into were interesting to read. I also like it because it is a feel-good tale which weaved in the lesson of learning what makes one special and the realization that there are people who'll accept you for who you are.

(Review taken from my blog post at http://sittiecateslovestories.blogspot.com/2014/03/book-reviews-tegen-cave-vril-... ( )

This is a wonderfully delightful story. In a world of self-rescuing warrior princesses, Princess Valeria of Amaranta just wants to stay at home and enjoy good food and even better desserts. Her mother fears she will never get a husband with her plump figure and takes drastic measures to get her to lose weight. What Valeria finds instead is a way to be herself and still have a fulfilling life. ( )