An even better follow-up to Of Curses and Kisses! I was so thrilled to get second book from this author set in this world that fixed the things I didn't enjoy about the first one. The writing is funny and engaging, while the story is well-paced. Caterina and Rahul are more likeable than Jaya and Grey, so that helped pull me through.

This was a great continuation to Menon's St. Rosetta's Academy Series. It was enjoyable to see all of the returning characters from the beginning of the series and especially nice to see the side characters from the first book given a chance to take center stage. The novel does a nice job with the frog prince retelling and while the plot doesn't tread any new ground and reveals might be predictable, you want to keep reading because the main characters are two people you really root for. Looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of Of Princes and Promises (St. Rosetta's Academy, 2) by Sandhya Menon. This YA novel will be released in June 2021. All opinions are my own.

Following her public breakup with Alaric, Caterina LaValle is determined to prove that she is still the queen of Rosetta Academy. As the social season begins to hype up, she comes up with a plan to prove she has moved on. Rahul Chopra has been in love with Caterina for years and knows that they shared something during their dance at winter formal, so when Caterina presents him with a proposal to be her date at social events, he jumps at the chance. Caterina gives him a complete makeover that includes etiquette lessons and a mysterious and magical hair gel that appears to have the power to not only change his appearance but boost his confidence in social situations. Transformed into RC, the two hit the social scene and cause quite a splash. Caterina quickly realizes that she's falling for Rahul and notices that he seems to be losing himself in RC. Rahul begins to feel that he's only his true self when he's RC and that there is no way Caterina could ever like him as himself. As his two personalities blur, things get more and more complicated.

Of Princes and Promises is a fun, fresh take on The Princess and the Frog. I really enjoyed how dynamic the characters were and the amount of character development and change that occurs. In the first book in the series, I found Caterina to be kind of flat and one-dimensional, but this book proves she's anything but that. I love the messages about believing in and being true to yourself and that appearances aren't as important as what is on the inside. Both Rahul and Caterina learned that you shouldn't and don't need to change who your are to be loved and/or fit in. I also very much appreciate the world-building and description of Rosetta with it's quaint, cute, and punny shops. My one complaint is about the use of the F-word in the last few chapters of the book. I was completely captivated by the story and invested in the characters and then Rahul dropped the F-bomb, not once but twice in a row. It completely jolted me out of the story as it, for me, just didn't mesh with his character. Then a few pages later Caterina also uses it and it again jolted me for the same reason. It felt like it was used just to be used and didn't really connect with the characters or seem like something they would say. Overall, though, I enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing a third in the series.

Really good as per her usual. She is a captivating romance writer. I also like the vividness of place and clothing descriptions. She builds an entertaining world with sympathetic variations on stock characters.

So fair warning, I didn't realize this was a second book! But the great part is, it didn't make a difference. Menon did just enough of covering important things that happened in the last book that you can totally keep up with what is going on. On that note, this was a really cute story. I loved that I honestly had no idea what was going to happen throughout it. The chapters go back and forth between Caterina and Rahul. Caterina is a popular socialite who recently went through a break-up, then had a moment with Rahul (in the last book). Rahul is a sweet, awkward, "nerd" who is enamored by Caterina. When Caterina propositions him to help her make her ex jealous, they both get way more than they bargained for. The pace was fast enough that I never got bored. I thought this book would be a teem rom-com, and it is, but it also becomes a bit of a mini-thriller. I enjoyed the ride, and now I want to go back and read the first, and soon the third books!
If you're into the idea of gossip girl, but in a less austentatious setting, better friends, and much more cuteness and happiness, I'd recommend this book!

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I've been a fan of this author's previous works for just about a year now, and so, when I heard of this novel and the fairytale adaptation it was, I was intrigued. In this contemporary retelling and twist on The Frog Prince, Caterina is the queen of St. Rosetta's Academy who is determined to continue her reign after being dumped when her boyfriend Alaric cheated on her. Then, there's the adorkable Rahul who's harbored a crush on Caterina ever since they shared a dance at the school winter formal months ago when she was the most heartbroken. When Caterina finds out Alaric is taking some supermodel to a big gala, she needs a ringer on her harm. She enlists the clueless Rahul to be her fake date, and she'll even dress him up to go with her. She uses a mysterious and magical hair gel that alters the wearer into whatever his heart desires, which for Rahul was RC who's a charming and debonair guy. However, transformation comes with a price and the line between his two personas blur together as RC gains popularity in town. Told in dual perspectives. it's such a cute and fun YA romance novel. It's definitely a quick read that's so enjoyable and hard to put down.

This second book in the St. Rosetta's Academy series follows Catarina and Rahul in a modern retelling of The Frog Prince. Like the first book in the series, Of Curses and Kisses, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, this is a modern day fairy tale. I always enjoy a good boarding school novel, and this book really works in that trope, along with a touch of magic. Catarina, the not-so-nice self-proclaimed "queen" of St. Rosetta's is back, attempting to reclaim her throne by getting back at her ex-boyfriend. Sweet and "adorkable" Rahul, madly in love with Catarina, finds a pot of hair gel that transforms him into smooth and charming RC, whose social status is on par with Catarina's. Rahul has to decide who he really wants to be: RC or Rahul? Catarina, too, has to decide who it is that she finds herself falling in love with.

Book 2 in the series takes us back to Rosetta Academy shortly after the first book ends. This story focuses on Caterina and Rahul in a modern day retelling of the Frog Prince. I found Caterina and Rahul to be very authentic characters. Their personalities and insecurities will be relatable to teen readers. I feel the final scene in this book hints at a third book in the series. I hope I am right!

I think there was a lot of promise here but I had a really hard time getting into this book. I feel like this book is for a younger audience (tween age) and the characters needed a little more development. However, I think my students (middle schoolers) would really enjoy this book. The world was cute and it was a quick read. I can see this being a hit for middle-grade and younger YA readers.

I am unable to read this book as it is not able to be downloaded on my e-reader. Can you please make this available because, though I appreciate it being sent to me, I am unable to see what it's all about!

I found myself truly enjoying this book! Caterina as a main character was much more interesting than I had expected, given her personality in book 1. She's not exactly "likable" but she's understandable, and that's very important.

Rahul is a beautiful sweet boy, but I hated RC, and this book definitely felt at a times like a love triangle, but it was done really well and I was so invested in the relationship! What would I have liked more of? The supporting cast. I really missed Jaya and Grey and the rest of their friend group, and DEFINITELY missed Isha, whom I was hoping to see more of! This book felt much less present at Rosetta than Of Curses and Kisses, which obviously makes sense but I definitely missed the strong boarding school vibes of the first book.

The overall mystery / magical element was *chefs-kiss* though.

Overall, big fan of this book, can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Sandhya Menon scores gold again with her St. Rosetta school stories with the unlikely pairing of one of the school’s snootiest and wealthiest young women, and an ugly duckling of a fellow who has pined after her from afar, and gets the amazing chance to connect with her at a dance where she was dumped by another. To keep her attention and her growing affection, why wouldn’t Rahul continue to use the magical hair lotion that seemingly transforms him into the teen equivalent of an International Man of Mystery, even if Caterina starts missing the real Rahul?

Very cute, but to me seemed kind of superficial - kind of like what my high school experience was. But I think the author is talented, so would recommend this to all teens who love romance!

*withholding review until a month out as per guidelines emailed to me* I will come back to post my review in May. But, I don't want my rating percentage to go down so this placeholder will be here until I can edit.

Back to St. Rosetta’s Academy we go! Of Princes and Promises is the fun followup to Of Curses and Kisses, and introduces us to Caterina LaValle and Rahul Chopra as they become entangled in a Frog Prince situation complete with magical hair gel, a Bugatti, a scheming new girl, and questions of authenticity. It’s a great dual POV romance set at a beautiful Aspen boarding school, and while I didn’t LOVE it as much as OCAK, it was still a fun read!

At the end of OCAK, Caterina LaValle, basically an Italian princess raised by a single dad, was heartbroken to find that her long-time boyfriend Alaric was cheating on her with Daphne Elizabeth. At the end of the book, at the fancy dance, she finds solace in the arms of nerdy, blunt Rahul Chopra, who immediately realizes she’s the girl of his dreams. One problem: he’s hardly the prince Caterina deserves. When Alaric announces he’s bringing an Australian model to the Hindman event, Caterina panics and announces she’s bringing a hot date as well. Well, she looks around, and all she can find is Rahul, who becomes her pet project to teach him etiquette. Throw in a good tux and some fancy hair gel, and Rahul becomes RC, a sauve, handsome stranger who looks great on Caterina’s arm. But as the facade progresses, Rahul starts to lose himself in RC, Caterina wants to bring back more of Rahul, and Rahul’s friends are growing more concerned about who he has become, and if he can get out again.

I liked both Caterina and Rahul as characters because they are so different but both feel overwhelmed by the reality of their worlds at times and struggle to be the people they know they are in regards to expectations of others. Revisiting St. Rosetta’s was fun, and I loved seeing Caterina and Rahul interacting in Ms. Rivard’s AP Psych class. The balance between the POVs was interesting—though it switched FAST sometimes, rather than in large chunks or scenes. I realized I’m not THAT familiar with the Frog Prince fairy tale, so I didn’t have HUGE expectations for this plot, other than a HEA, which you know we got, so yay!

I really love what Menon is doing in this series–it’s a fun place to be, the fairy tales make it feel familiar but the diverse cast adds some freshness, and I can’t wait to read book 3!

How can you not love the Rosetta Academy kids? I was really excited when book 2 was announced and I wasn't disappointed. Following Menyon's as always brilliant writing, it was easy to get submerged into the lives of Rahul and Caterina. I knew there was more to Katarina and book one, and I am very glad to have been proven right.

Sandhya's stories always are so cute and funny, this sequel was not the exemption. I love this group of friends, want more about them.

I love the mix between modern highschool with fairytales this is an interesting version of the prince frog, very glamorous. This time is the turn of Rahul. He likes Caterina, the Highschool Queen, but (at least at first sight) he don't look like the Prince Caterina wants.

I love Rahul; he sees the world in his own way, has his group of good and loyal friends and doesn't need anything more...until Caterina.

Caterina's development is nice, she had the idea of always need to look perfect and be in control, but she will learn a few things about friendship, romance, and about what is really important.

Together they will have fun and learn not only from the other, but also about themselves too.

I feel some things could develop more, but overall is a great story, cute romance, funny characters, and can't wait for read the next story.

This book was received as an ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing - Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sandhya Menon does it again with a modern take on a classic tale. I loved the concept of of Princes and Promises and the entire time I was reading the book, I could not help but to think Steve Urkel vs. Stefan Urkell. The "adorkable" Rahul Chopra uses his love for Caterina after she finds out that her ex-boyfriend is taking a supermodel to prom and she uses Rahul as her muse and turns him into RC in being her perfect date but as most fairy tales end, it is what's inside that counts and Rahul had RC in him all along. This is the perfect story for self-discovery of what truly matters in life and that is just be who you are. I know our teen book club will go crazy for this and I can't wait to hear all of the discussions from this book.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I received this book from #NetGalley for an honest review

I must say I really enjoyed this one. I'm not sure if I normally would have gotten it so I happy I got a chance to try it. Beautiful story.

The cover of this book is beautiful. I thought there was a lot of promise here but I had a really hard time getting into this book. I think that this book is for a younger audience (tween age) and the characters needed a little more development.

Caterina is the typical rich, popular but not invulnerable person who is under pressure to be perfect and most importantly look perfect. Rahul is adorable but at the same time, he was almost unbelievable with his lack of social skills and being able to see when he is too blunt with his friends.