This was definitely not my kind of book. I found both leads to be annoying. I found the surprise the MMC was keeping to be... more than a story like this needed. All the twists and turns were too unbelievable but of course everything works out just pefectly at the end.

Here’s Where She Meets Prince Charming by Kristin Wright is a heartwarming and witty coming-of-age story about 17-year-old Natalie Tremayne, who is navigating the challenges of high school, self-image, and the pressures of her future. When a new, mysterious boy, Campbell Adams, enters her life through the school play, Natalie’s world is turned upside down. With her usual confidence in academics and swimming, she’s thrown into uncharted emotional waters as she uncovers Campbell’s secrets and learns more about herself in the process. Wright’s novel is a refreshing mix of humor, romance, and self-discovery, showing that the best plans often come with unexpected twists.

Kristin Wright’s Here's Where She Meets Prince Charming is a heartfelt and relatable YA contemporary romance that blends the magic of high school theater with the messiness of real-life challenges. With its sharp-witted protagonist, charming love story, and willingness to tackle complex issues, this novel is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Natalie, a fiercely determined high school senior, juggles her commitments to swimming, academics, and her passion for theater. When Campbell, a reserved and enigmatic new student, auditions for the school’s production of Beauty and the Beast, their lives become intertwined. Cast as the Beast opposite Natalie’s secondary role, Campbell surprises everyone with his quiet charisma and hidden talent. As they grow closer during rehearsals, Natalie learns there’s more to Campbell than meets the eye—a secret that could change everything.

Wright captures the highs and lows of adolescence with a deft hand. Natalie’s character is a standout: confident in her talents yet vulnerable to the bullying and body-shaming she faces for her tall, athletic build. Her resilience and humor make her instantly likable, and her journey toward self-acceptance is deeply inspiring. Campbell, on the other hand, is the quintessential brooding love interest with a heart of gold. His struggles are revealed gradually, adding depth and nuance to his character.

The setting of the school play, with its blend of drama, camaraderie, and tension, serves as a perfect backdrop for the story. Wright beautifully conveys the transformative power of theater, not just as an art form but as a microcosm where identities are explored and relationships are forged. The playful banter among cast members and the behind-the-scenes glimpses of rehearsal life will resonate with anyone who has ever been part of a school production.

What sets this book apart is its ability to weave serious topics—bullying, body image, and societal expectations—into the narrative without feeling preachy. Wright addresses these issues with empathy and authenticity, offering a nuanced portrayal of teenage life. Natalie’s mother’s overbearing concern about her appearance and the toxic attitudes of her peers are balanced by moments of support from her father, friends, and Campbell.

While the romance between Natalie and Campbell is central, the story doesn’t shy away from the challenges they face. Their relationship feels realistic, marked by moments of sweetness, tension, and growth. The chemistry between them is palpable, and the resolution is both satisfying and hopeful, leaving readers with the sense that these characters are on the cusp of something bigger as they move beyond high school.

The book’s pacing is mostly strong, though the early chapters take a little time to gain momentum. Once the narrative hits its stride, however, it’s impossible to put down. Wright’s writing is eloquent and engaging, capturing the essence of teenage emotions without veering into melodrama.

Here's Where She Meets Prince Charming is more than a high school romance—it’s a coming-of-age story that celebrates resilience, self-discovery, and the power of human connection. With its relatable characters, authentic voice, and blend of lighthearted moments and serious themes, this novel is a must-read for fans of YA contemporary fiction.

Ugh. This was a horribly written book. It was boring, slow, predictable. I could barely get through this one. 1/5 stars.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Natalie and Campbell. They meet in high school, they have classes together and are on the swim team. During their senior year, they start dating. Campbell tells Natalie that he has a little boy. They both have issues but together they worked them out and fall in love.

Here’s Where She Meets Prince Charming had an interesting premise, but sadly, I couldn’t quite get into it. The story revolves around Natalie, a talented high school student with big dreams, and Campbell, a mysterious new kid. While the characters had potential, I struggled to connect with them. Natalie’s insecurities and Campbell’s secret just didn’t feel compelling, and I found their relationship lackluster.

The pacing was slow, and even though the book had moments where it seemed like it would pick up, it didn’t hold my attention. I was hoping for more depth and emotional investment, but unfortunately, I just didn’t feel it. Overall, it was a bit boring, and I didn’t find myself particularly invested in the story.

I wanted this to be better than it was. Maybe teens will enjoy it more but I wasn't a huge fan. Disappointing!

A sweet teen drama about high school kids trying to figure out life. Campbell became a father a young age and now has to navigate fatherhood while still in high school. Nat is trying to find her place in the world after high school and must determine what is truly important. This story was well written and gave light to what teens often face as their high school careers come to an end and adulthood starts. Well done!

This book was like combining both mine and my husband’s passions into one - theatre and swimming!

Natalie is passionate about theater, a great swimmer, and all around star student - but all of the boys are intimidated by her height. Enter Campbell, the new kid, may be the key to ending her romantic drought.

Such a sweet read!

I was blown away by the depth of character in this novel. It's YA, and marketed as High School Musical + Beauty and the Beast. (It is both of those.) But it's also a perfect read for teens who feel they don't fit in, for anyone who is struggling to find their place.

Natalie is a strong young woman, with beauty and grace and character. Even when the adults in her life don't see it, her heart knows her value.

"Jerk kids are perks no matter what you look like."

She's an athlete, actress, and artist - who deserves the best of each of those worlds. And like most teens, she's carrying the burden of everyone's expectations. Not only that, but it seems like nobody wants to tell Natalie the truth.

Dealing with life, even while you're in a musical, is part of growing up. Natalie's a great character, and a great MC for any YA fan.

I enjoyed this ya romance that kind of gave me beauty and the beast vibes. It was sweet. This one threw in all my favorite troupes, and some of my favorite pop culture references.

I thought this was a perfect coming of age story and not one that told with just grace. The writer did a great job with character development and keeping your hooked. It touches on so many things teen face today, I felt the author really laid it out perfectly. It must read for every age, not just the YA group. It is the perfect story to read with your daughter and talk about how you felt when reading it.
There were times when the main character had me laughing, she is every teen girl so relatable.

Natalie has everything mapped out for her, good grades, passion for theater, good at swimming enough to get her in a good college far away from her parents. But when new kid Campbell starts to notice her, just maybe she will have a boyfriend too. But he has secrets she doesn't see coming. This is altar universe she had never navigated before so to meet him where he is she needs to be all in. So, when he shuts her out, she keeps pushing because she knows who he really is not what he believes he is.

Great Book! Thank you, Kristin,!

I do think the romance was so sweet, and I think it provided into the struggles of having a single parent can be like for some people. I did think it was pretty impressive how the main character has so many commitments. I just think this was a little bit too slow for me to fully fall in love with it.

This book was so much more than I thought it would be. It focuses on a struggling single dad as her works, goes to school full time, does swim team, star in the school musical, and navigate his growing feelings for Natalie. The two do everything they can to ignore their connection but their feelings quickly get messy and complicated.

Altogether, I would rate this book a four out of five stars. The only reason it is not a five is because the beginning was a little on the slow side, but don't let it deter you. I am very glad that

This was a really well written YA novel, that handles a lot of really heavy topics in a very mature and realistic way. I find sometimes with YA novels that sometimes they seem too silly and out there with how teenagers handle the situations they are thrust in but I didn't feel that way at all with this book. Nat is our heroine, she's in her senior year, start student, swimmer, and a talented musical theatre performer, who never gets the lead because of her tall/larger build. I was so inspired by how she valued her mind and body, she had the kind of confidence that reminded me of when I was younger, it's tough having your weight commented on by your mom, teachers, family friends, etc. but you have to accept your body type and learn to love it for what it can do. The romance was good, again, felt very realistic and the hurdles that they faced were very compelling to read without getting annoying! Cam was very shy and quiet, he was dealing with a lot in his home life and it was really lovely to see him open up to Nat about everything going on and for them to grow together. You're left feeling hopeful for their relationship and their futures!

This romance was sweet and angsty. I called a few things that happened before they did, but I was still surprised how the story unfolded. I really enjoyed Campbell and Natalie's story. I loved Natalie standing up for herself against Finney in the last chapter. He had that awakening coming and, while the final getting together was abrupt, I loved how it ended. Thank you to Netgalley and Owl Hollow Press for the eARC of this novel. I really enjoyed reading it.

A lovely coming of age story about some of the difficult topics that teens face such as bullying and body shaming. It has very likable and endearing characters and I loved seeing them bond and grow with each other. I wasn't expecting this to be quite as heavy as it was but it was a beautiful story that explored some important topics and I think I would have really appreciated this when I was a teen. It started out a bit slow but overall it's a good story

Thank you to Netgalley, Owl Hollow Press and Kristin Wright for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderfully written, very compelling YA contemporary romance. I found myself rooting for Natalie, our point of view character, almost from the first page. Nat is smart, ambitious and dedicated, a star on the swim team and a committed musical theatre performer as well as a top student in her senior year.

We get to know a little about her family, her mother's overbearing concern about her heavier and taller physique, and her father's support as a professor at the local state university. The first major disappointment for Nat comes when she misses out on the lead in Beauty and the Beast - to make things worse, her beloved theatre teacher even admits that it's all about her physique and nothing to do with her talent and ability. Outwardly, Natalie rolls with the disappointment with the kind of confidence that young people will admire and respect in her character. I found myself really inspired by how well she knew herself and how much she valued her mind, character and body for everything she could do throughout the story. This book truly delivers the kind of body neutrality/positivity that I wish I had read more of as a teenager!

Of course, the romance wouldn't be a romance without a love interest! Campbell, a senior like Nat, is relatively new to the school and very reserved; they have seen each other at swim training every weekday for a year without ever really exchanging a word. When he surprises everyone by audtioning for the spring musical - and getting cast as the Beast - he and Natalie are quickly drawn towards each other. There were plenty of swoon-worthy moments as the romance between them developed, slowly, tensely, and not always in a hopeful direction... By the time we reach the resolution and Nat and Campbell find themselves at the start of a new, post-high school chapter in each of their lives, we are left with the genuine sense that their happy-for-now might just be forever. Or maybe it won't - and maybe that'll be okay, too. Whatever happens, Nat and Campbell feel well-matched, hopeful, realistic, excited, nervous and carefree all at once - a lovely, relatable and realistic high school coming-of-age.

This book touches on some quite heavy topics that I don't often see written about so openly in the YA space, including sex ed and abstinence education, unplanned pregnancy, and alcohol misuse. Kristin Wright does a stellar job of giving the issues the weight they deserve without casting judgement. The whole cast of characters - from the popular girl playing Belle to the usually-cool dad who freaks out when Nat starts dating - show Nat (and the reader) that they will always have the capacity to surprise us. Overall, I really enjoyed this story - an adorable, just-on-the-PG-13-side of steamy romance with a huge, human heart.

Here's Where She Meets Prince Charming is published May 21 2024 by Owl Hollow Press.

I preface my review in stating that I don't read a lot of YA novels. Maybe it's my age, or maybe because I don't tend to find the situations realistic (especially in resolution).

Which is all to say that I was pleasantly surprised, and in a good way, with this novel.

Now it's been a hot minute since I've been in high school, but the characters were so realistic, and the I sympathized with their struggles and insecurities. There wasn't one time where I said to myself "as if."

Natalie and Campbell are absolutely great and well-written characters, and the supporting cast were as well.

Without giving too much away, I have to say that I loved the ending. I haven't been that satisfied with a conclusion of a novel in a long time.

The story was a bit slow to get going, but I also appreciate the time spent developing the characters and plot.

This was definitely one of the better reads I've read all year. This romance was better than a lot of modern day adult-geared novels. I look forward to reading more from this writer. I will definitely had Kristin Wright to my must-read list.
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Disclaimer: I received and advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you Kristin Wright and Owl Hollow Press for the copy.