The Head That Wears the Crown by Mariah Stewart

How many of you have thought about being royalty? Living in a palace? Not having to lift a finger ever again to do mundane tasks? Would you step into a fairytale story at this point in your life whether 20, 40, 60, or more? Would you be willing to take your family with you to a place that needs help that you might or might not be able to provide? Would you question your right to wear a crown and wonder how to put a small portion of the European map on the MAP again? Hmmm…

Okay…I’m writing about a book that I almost left behind last night because I started reading, saw a diary-like retelling of a past-events story with a forty year old + divorced mother of teens being given the golden ticket to leave behind her mundane Philadelphia life to emerge in a beautiful alpine country never heard of before and then being tasked with creating a vibrant thriving place for her family settle in and create the perfectly perfect newly regenerated parcel of European soil to become what it might possibly maybe become.

Okay…right now in typing this up I am kind of lost for a way to go forward so will way:

* I almost stopped reading a few pages in because I could not connect with the writing style or the characters or the feel of it all
* I had trouble with the over-the-top feel at times..
* I loved the family influence and how it tied in throughout
* I was baffled at times with the mention of ancestors being felt by the main character and her conferring with them here and there along the way…was she psychic or was she just…feeling their presence?
* Couldn’t and still can’t understand why three sisters would still be available to leave the USA to head to Gilberti and be willing to do so for an older sister that at times seemed less competent than her siblings
*Loved the historical information but…felt there was a lot wanting
* and…okay…here it comes…as I type up this review after having stayed up late last night and thinking this book was a silly thing that wasn’t worth reading will say that **I seem to have read it** and you know what…I am kind of curious to find out what might happen to the “royal family” as they move/plod forward in the future.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes and no
Would I read more in this series? Perhaps

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the Arc – This is my honest review

3-4 Stars

If you loved the Princess Diaries as a kid, this book is definitely for you. This is not your typical rags to riches story; Annie always knew her grandmother was special, even if it felt like that just for her. When she find out her grandmother was the last Grand Duchess of a tiny nation nestled in Europe it comes as a great shock, but Annie takes it all in stride.

Annie was someone I found easy to cheer on. She is a genuinely good person who cares about people she has never even met and wants to do good in the world. Did I find this story a bit monotonous at times, a bit, but I did enjoy the journey of a middle-aged divorced mom from Philadelphia to the Grand Duchess of a nation of beauty, but one with a deep and dark past.

This was SO FUN! It was absolutely a grown up princess diaries story and I loved it! This felt like a mostly light read, the characters were quirky and fun and so easy to love. The story had great pacing, was so well written, and just made the entire scenario, country, and family feel magical. This was the grown up version of every little girls dream, and it was so well done.

This would be a perfect palate cleanser read, it was light and fun, but still had substance! If you like royal stories, this is for you!

I received an advanced copy to read, all opinions are my own.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars rounded up

If you read the postscript, you will learn that this was written as an escape from the crazy that we all experienced in 2020/21. I had wondered that before I got to it, because this is a fun fantasy that is designed to take someone out of the everyday and give them a fabulous, crazy daydream.

Annie is a middle-aged single mum who discovers that she is the heir to a small Duchy in Europe which needs her. Her family escaped during WWII and have lived incognito in the USA ever since. Now she needs to take her place in the country and restore its fortunes.

From the fabulous castles, the magical soap, and the divine bodyguard, Max, Annie is gathering her family and friends around her to take on the task of a lifetime.

Great escapist read!

Being a long time fan of this author, I was pleased to read this light and fun story! Who hasn’t ever wished that this dream would become a reality. It’s an adult version of a child’s fantasy. Love it!

Thanks for the opportunity!

The Head That Wears the Crown is a delightful fairy tale like story that is perfect for when you. are feeling the need for a warm fuzzy story set in a beautiful place.

I think it has a Hallmark ring to it and would make a perfect movie, in fact I'd love to see it as a movie with all the delicious eye candy of castles and countryside.

I enjoyed the characters - Annaliese is a caring and savvy woman who when challenged to take on the role of Grand Duchess of a small European country does so with full heartedness. Her family are also great and the people in the castle. Saint Gilbert is full of local lore and has some excellent things going for it so long as they can be developed. The right person for that job is Annaliese.

There is a little light romance with one Duke who is the master mind behind all the security in the country - very honourable and loyal and I believe handsome!

So if you feel like some light reading with a touch of mystery pick this one up.

Cute story about a divorced single mom who finds out that she is heir to a small European kingdom. Whisked away from her humdrum life in a Philadelphia suburb with her two teenage children and siblings she finds herself in a poor country with a lot of assets just waiting for her touch.
The story is a bit like the Princess Bride for those of you familiar with the movie but its lighthearted and fun and of course there's romance not just for her but potentially for her two single sisters and her best friend who joins her there.
The supporting cast is terrific and it's great to watch all of the characters find themselves and grow.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Technically, the cover caught my eye first. Then the prospect of reading a witty women’s fiction. But it was more. This has been my first read from the author and I can say that this won’t be the last.
Anna is over forty, divorced and struggling with day to day problems of life when she finds herself in a different version of a Princess Diaries. But better! Because she is a mother, because she is a survivor, she is not only competent, but also smart, funny, realist and everything a normal 40 plus modern woman is. I loved her instantly and found her quite relatable.
The writing was so professional, so funny and pages flew. Not just the story, the writing kept me reading.
Thank you by heart..

EXCERPT: I turned off the car and opened the door, a cup of Wawa coffee in one hand and a tote bag in the other. I locked up and started through the parking lot.
I was one car row from the entrance when I saw them. All three of them, and I realized this was no coincidence.
My blood froze in my veins, and my legs turned to rubber. I dropped my coffee - and damn it, there was still half left - and ran for the door.
'What's your hurry, Annie?' Debbie Wilson, the receptionist for my department - that would be claims - had been halfway up the steps when she heard the splash.
I blew past her and rushed into the building, past the security guard, and hightailed it down the hall as fast as my size seven-and-a-half ballet flats could take me. Once safely in my cubicle, I dropped my tote - pissed off more than I can tell you that I'd wasted a half cup of Wawa Columbian that had been fixed perfectly - and fell into my chair, gasping for breath.
I was so out of shape, and I regretted having dropped my gym membership back in the fall when I was going through a budget crisis. My heart was beating like crazy and my hands were shaking uncontrollably. I didn't know who those men were, but they were definitely following me.
Which made no sense at all. I mean, why?

ABOUT 'THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN': Annaliese—Annie—Gilberti is a divorced South Philadelphia mother of two with a nine-to-five job when a shocking discovery turns another average day upside down: her late grandmother was the exiled ruler of a small European country, and Annie is next in line to wear the crown and restore the monarchy. The would-be grand duchess of the Grand Duchy of Saint Gilbert has vacation time coming, enough to take a quick trip to check it out.

It’s easy to fall in love with Saint Gilbert’s villagers; its mysteries (why does everyone look decades younger than they claim to be?); her family’s ancestral home, Castle Blanc (so many hidden rooms and passages!); and maybe—just a little—with the dashing Maximilien Belleme, the captain of the castle guard. Never one to walk away from a challenge, Annie steps up, determined to be worthy of the crown that’s been offered. As she, her sisters, and her children work to bring Saint Gilbert into the modern age, Annie discovers a legacy of courageous women and that no threat is too great to deny the grand duchess’s right to the throne.

MY THOUGHTS: I just loved this pure piece of escapism. Who has never dreamed of being a Princess? I sure did - purely for the access to the wonderful horses I would be able to ride - but still . . .

The Head That Wears the Crown may be totally unrealistic, put it is pure, unadulterated FUN! Max Belleme can drag me off to Saint Gilbert any time.

I thoroughly enjoyed my jaunt to Saint Gilbert. Mariah Stewart writes in a natural, unaffected way that is a joy to read. Her characters are ordinary people - a solo working mum who is about to become the Grand Duchess of a principality she has never even heard of; Her two sisters; Her two teenaged children; And her best friend. There's a little tension when one of the characters is kidnapped. But it is not all plain sailing for Annaliese - the country is in a rundown state, and not everyone is happy that she is Grand Duchess. There is a faction who want to remove her from her (very uncomfortable) throne.

Who ever would have thought this would be such a wonderful read? This is a book that will lift your spirits and make you smile.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.3

#TheHeadThatWearstheCrown #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Mariah Stewart considers herself one lucky son of a gun to have landed the best job in the world: getting paid for making up stories. At home. In sweats and J. Crew flip flops. Could life be sweeter?

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Montlake via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Head That Wears the Crown by Mariah Stewart for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For Annaliese Gilberti, life is about to change in a big way. Instead of living the life of a divorced mother of teenagers, she is the heir to the throne of a tiny country called Saint Gilbert. Annaliese is the Grand Duchess Annaliese Jacqueline Terese. You may be thinking this reminds you of The Princess Diaries. Me, too, and that is one of the reasons I loved the story so much. Annaliese is South Philly tough, but taking on the needs of a whole country is A LOT. Fortunately people who care about her encourage her to delegate. All is not running as smoothly as Annaliese had hoped and there is a threat to the throne and her family that must be dealt with in a wise way. With her South Philly smarts, Annaliese will figure out a way to weather the crisis. And that cover! One of my favorites this year. A gem of a book.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

What a delightful story this is. I loved the premise behind the story, the characters and the plot. When royalty is on the forefront of today's society so much, this was just a fun take on becoming royal and all that it entails. This story has it all, mystery, intrique and most of all romance. Once I picked this book up I couldn't put it down until I was done. A modern day fairy tale at its finest!

This book was a fun read about a fantasy come true for Annaliese-a divorced mom of two living in Philadelphia. One day she notices some men in suits following her and showing up everywhere she was, and she is soon informed that her maternal family line was past royalty in a small European country, and she is the next in line to be the Duchess and restore the monarchy.

The story that evolves is one of a true escape from reality, with castles, rich history, fun relationships, and a wide open list of opportunities. As a reader, the story is a fun dream of that "what if" scenario. I especially enjoyed the writing of this book and the incorporation of Annaliese's stream of consciousness which was both snarky and humorous.

An adorable adult version of Princess Diaries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Such a charming darling little story!!!!!!!

I've read a lot of Mariah Stewart's books through the years. I've enjoyed them all for different reasons. So, I went in with the expectation that I would enjoy this story. But I was wrong, I LOVED this book. There are so many reasons. I love that the heroine is a middle aged, divorced mom of teenagers that out of the blue becomes the Grand Duchess. Who hasn't imagined at some point in their life that they were royalty. I love the relationships among the characters in this story. Annie and her sisters were what all sisters hope for. The kids are a fun addition. Add in some intrigue and some romance and this is such a fun story. I don't know if the author plans for this to remain as a standalone book, but I would love to see a series set in this country. So many characters that I want to know more about. This is a perfect book to let yourself imagine the possibilities of what if? I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Perhaps you’re like millions of other women who have watched The Princess Diaries over and over and over again. Even my husband enjoys those movies and has watched them multiple times if you can believe that.

The Head That Wears the Crown is a dreamy, swoony story that sucks you in from the beginning. Stewart writes in the first person so it truly is like the main character is telling you a fantastic story. I love that type of writing as it delivers you right into the fantasy.

This book is as real as it gets. It’s loaded with humor, reality, tenacity, ingenuity, and a little bit of romance to top it off. This grown-up version of The Princess Diaries is so much better!

The characterization is awesome. The main character along with her sisters and family are swept away to a new country where they definitely have their work cut out for them.

The descriptions and the imagination of a fairytale country come to life as Stewart weaves her story. And she even throws in a little bit of a twist to keep us on our toes.

Wrapped up with a sweet epilogue, and maybe even a few hints of stories to come, which would be wonderful in my opinion, this book is a delight and perfect for the women’s fiction lover and the dreamer in you. Clear your weekend and take a trip into this dreamy fantasy escape story!

This is a book that reads like an adult fairy tale. Definitely a rags to riches story about a regular girl from Philly who becomes royalty after she is an adult with kids. Several reviewers are calling it a princess diaries 2.0 kind of story and I definitely agree with that assessment.

I found the sense of humor of the main character delightful. This is definitely a fast read that transports you into a fantasy world. It's perfect for a light-hearted read focused on women's fiction and family history. Perfect for a weekend rainy day read!

It's not a romance driven kind of story (though it does have some peppered through it) for those of you who need that in a story but it is the perfect escape for every woman who loves a fairy tale stemming from real life and down to earth characters.

My sincere thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read The Head That Wears the Crown by Mariah Stewart. I give my unbiased opinion of the book in the following review.

I have loved so many of Mariah Stewart's books in the past that I was excited to have a chance to read an ARC of The Head That Wears the Crown which is essentially an adult version of The Princess Diaries. Unfortunately, I just didn't love this book. It is a departure from what I would call Stewart's normal type of book. That is not necessarily a bad thing because I'm sure there are many readers who will love this fairy tale story. As for me, it just didn't catch my interest. I skimmed some and had a hard time picking up the book. When I read a fairy tale, I want to get lost in the world of the story so much so that I forget that it is a fairy talk and not really based in reality. Even with some tension and a little suspense at the end I just couldn't get lost in this one. I didn't believe it. That being said, I am still a fan of Mariah Stewart and will no doubt read more of her books in the future.

How would you react to the news that you are royalty?

Yes, after the belly laugh and gasps. How’d you react?

This is the premise that author Mariah Stewart explores when she questions if this discovery would be really worth uprooting one’s family and totally changing one’s way of life.

John-Paul Laurent, Marcel Barsotti, and Maximillien Belleme are on a mission; their sole focus is to convince Her Royal Highness, Grand Duchess Annaliese Emelie Sophia Elizabet of the Grand Duchy of Saint Gilbert, to return to Castle Blanc and re-establish the monarchy in Saint Gilbert.

The thing is, Her Royal Highness doesn’t know she’s royalty.

She’s just plain old Annaliese Gilberti Cancelmi, divorced and struggling mom of two teens.

Stewart takes her readers on an enchanting journey of a middle-aged ordinary woman who is given the opportunity to become extraordinary and carry the torch of the Gilberti legacy. I was spellbound as Steward ignited my love of fairytales and had me instantly smiling and nodding my head at her authentic representation of a modern family. Her characters are wonderful and I loved the ‘what if’ aspect, even if I had to suspend my disbelief at times.

This story about love, loss, duty and family bonds is pure escapism and needs to be on your reading list.

Did you enjoy The Princess Diaries? Roman Holiday? Then you’ll enjoy this one.

I was gifted this copy by Montlake and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

A South Philly single mom of two finds out she is heir to a small country. Annie travels to St. Gilbert and falls in love with the country, people and cultural. She moves with her teenagers there, and her sisters and best friend follow. She becomes the Grand Duchy and is given task of bringing this country up to date. The country has no hotel so no tourism. The Council is set up of older men who have not been accountable and have been left to their own agendas. Roads are deplorable, young people are leaving and castles are crumbling….what’s a Duchy to do?

Princess Diaries meets Hallmark movies. A cute, quick read, but I did find myself rolling my eyes quite a few times. I can’t imagine two teenage kids jumping at the chance to move halfway around the world with no push back of leaving their friends and everything they know. It was refreshing to see the close relationship they had with their Mom, but these kids were just too good to be true. The relationship between the sisters is strong, but again, they leave willingly to take on strong roles within the country. Very little growing pains for the family. The Council basically accepts this new Duchy with little drama. How is English the main language? Yes, there is a twist about 3/4 of the way in. I was expecting a twist, but not this one. Of course there is a hunky Captain who has captured Annie’s eye. Since I live 30 miles from Philly, I loved all the references to the city and the surrounding area, including the attitude and slang. Was this a fun little read, yes. Perfect light read for vacation or weekend home. I’ve read this author before and have enjoyed her previous books more, but this was a cute escape.

Thanks to Montlake Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

This was mostly a fun, quirky story about an American, single mom who finds out she is actually a direct descendant and next in line to the Duchy of Saint Gilbert. At times, serious, and other times over the top fantastical, there was plenty of levity as the main character Anneliese directs ger off the wall comments to us, her audience. I loved the Philly references as I'll be visiting this weekend, lol. A bit of fluff for the most part but I actually needed that right now.