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The Cinderella Moment
A love of fashion.
A couture competition.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance . . .
Angel Moncoeur has always wanted to be a fashion designer, but without money or connections, it's going to be a challenge. When an opportunity to leave her home in New York and head to Paris appears, Angel grabs it – even if it means masquerading as her best friend Lily. That can't be too hard, can it?
But faking things doesn't come easy for Angel, so when she falls in love with her very own Prince Charming and he thinks she's someone else, things start to get complicated.
Angel needs to stop her secrets unravelling if she wants to live happily ever after . . .
From exciting talent Jennifer Kloester comes this fabulous story about high society, mistaken identity, love, betrayal, friendship – and great clothes.
A couture competition.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance . . .
Angel Moncoeur has always wanted to be a fashion designer, but without money or connections, it's going to be a challenge. When an opportunity to leave her home in New York and head to Paris appears, Angel grabs it – even if it means masquerading as her best friend Lily. That can't be too hard, can it?
But faking things doesn't come easy for Angel, so when she falls in love with her very own Prince Charming and he thinks she's someone else, things start to get complicated.
Angel needs to stop her secrets unravelling if she wants to live happily ever after . . .
From exciting talent Jennifer Kloester comes this fabulous story about high society, mistaken identity, love, betrayal, friendship – and great clothes.
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 2013
20 people are currently reading
1182 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Kloester
11 books125 followersI was born in Melbourne, Australia, but have lived and worked in Papua New Guinea and the Middle East and travelled to more than thirty countries. While living overseas I studied as an off-campus student with Deakin University and achieved my BA (Hons) while raising my three children.
After graduating with a PhD in history from the University of Melbourne, my first two books: 'Georgette Heyer's Regency World' and 'Georgette Heyer' (the biography) published in both the UK and the USA.
My first novel, 'The Cinderella Moment', was published by Penguin Australia in 2013 and its sequel, 'The Rapunzel Dilemma' in 2014.
My new novel, Jane Austen's Ghost will be published in October 2019 by Overlord Publishing. I've read and loved Jane Austen for years and have always wondered how she'd fare in our world. This book was my chance to find out! I've had lots of fun giving talks around the world on Georgette Heyer and the Regency, and am a passionate advocate for women writers, books and reading.
I love writing and spending time with my family, my garden is a haven of flowers, birds and insects and I have a serious plant addiction! I love having adventures,and once went to a Rammstein concert in Barcelona (it was epic). One of my favourite things is experiencing new cultures, meeting new people and trying out different languages. Particular interests include Georgette Heyer first editions, and after a glorious visit to South Korea in 2012, Korean language and culture.
Since then, I've also fallen in ove with Scotland and the Hebrides in particular. I have a dream of walking, around Italy but only if my knees hold up!Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
August 15, 2013
See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads
Mini review:
Thank you Penguin Australia for sending me this copy. No compensation was given or taken to alter this review.
'Fortune favours the bold.'
There are flaws in this novel. There are flaws in all novels. However it's up to us readers to find them and scrutinise them, or not even notice them. Some are more obvious than others. And in reality, The Cinderella Moment is a decent novel, nonetheless I had nit-picked out a few issues that could not even hide from the cuteness and characters.
The main character:
Angel(!!) was a little depth lacking but her bright personality and determination were positive additions, at times I found her oblivious in several no-brainer situations (which led to me talking to her in frustration. Hush, I'm weird.) That being said, her character was well planned and drawn out.
The romance:
Nick was charming, good hearted and genuine but a little dramatic in the way he talks. That being said, Angel and Nick were an entertaining couple that livened this nov quite a bit. Despite all fantasticness, it came off cheesy and a little too evoking at a few small intervals.
What I didn't like:
- Too much showing and not enough telling, there was so much telling and explaining of irrelevant aspects.
- Way too much dialogue. I don't think I've come across this before, usually it's too much descriptions. However, The Cinderella moment was rather monotonous with the amount of paragraph long dialogue.
- There's a inconsistency in the pace. I felt that the important, tense situations were rushed and unnecessary dramas went on for too long.
All in all, a lovely retelling of Cinderella, though slightly slow, The Cinderella Moment was a cute and character based fashion novel that many young readers will love.
Mini review:
Thank you Penguin Australia for sending me this copy. No compensation was given or taken to alter this review.
'Fortune favours the bold.'
There are flaws in this novel. There are flaws in all novels. However it's up to us readers to find them and scrutinise them, or not even notice them. Some are more obvious than others. And in reality, The Cinderella Moment is a decent novel, nonetheless I had nit-picked out a few issues that could not even hide from the cuteness and characters.
The main character:
Angel(!!) was a little depth lacking but her bright personality and determination were positive additions, at times I found her oblivious in several no-brainer situations (which led to me talking to her in frustration. Hush, I'm weird.) That being said, her character was well planned and drawn out.
The romance:
Nick was charming, good hearted and genuine but a little dramatic in the way he talks. That being said, Angel and Nick were an entertaining couple that livened this nov quite a bit. Despite all fantasticness, it came off cheesy and a little too evoking at a few small intervals.
What I didn't like:
- Too much showing and not enough telling, there was so much telling and explaining of irrelevant aspects.
- Way too much dialogue. I don't think I've come across this before, usually it's too much descriptions. However, The Cinderella moment was rather monotonous with the amount of paragraph long dialogue.
- There's a inconsistency in the pace. I felt that the important, tense situations were rushed and unnecessary dramas went on for too long.
All in all, a lovely retelling of Cinderella, though slightly slow, The Cinderella Moment was a cute and character based fashion novel that many young readers will love.
January 30, 2015
This book was so amazing, it can't be described. From the moment I found out that it was about girl designing clothes I was hooked because I love reading about designing (once upon a time it was my dream too).I like to imagine all the clothes that were designed especially the gowns. Gowns for me are the most beautiful thing that a woman can wear. And then Nick, he was so uber cute and adorable. At the end of the book we got some heavy familiy drama that made the book even better. I forgot to mention that Paris was so beautifully described and I long to see all the places the Angel went to.
So if you want to read something light and love Paris this is definitely a book for you. :)
So if you want to read something light and love Paris this is definitely a book for you. :)
May 27, 2015
Angel has dreamed about winning Teen Couture she has found the perfect fabric for her final ball gown she just needs to design and sew the perfect dress. She’s may be the daughter of a housekeeper but she doesn’t let that hold her back or keep her from dreaming. Angel’s best friend Lily may be the daughter of her mom’s employer but that doesn’t affect their friendship. While Lily’s father is out of the country his girlfriend at the time Margot has moved in with her daughter Clarissa to watch Lily. Margot is a social climber and determined to help her daughter win the Teen Couture and when Lily’s estranged grandmother and creator of the Versailles Ball request’s Lily spend the summer season with her Margot orders her to go.
Lily doesn’t want to spend the two weeks’ in Paris she’s interested in acting and wants to spend the two weeks in London at a theater program. When the idea comes up of sending Angel to Paris because her grandmother doesn’t know what she looks like and Lily can go to London Angels is against it. When Angel’s mother suddenly falls ill she’s forced to choose between her mother’s care and entering the Teen Couture. By not entering the Teen Couture Clarissa will enter her designs claiming them as her own which doesn’t sit well with Angel but she doesn’t see any other options. The girls decide to go with the plan sending Angel off to Paris to pretend to be Lily and stop Clarissa from entering her designs. Will Lily’s grandmother believe that Angel is her? Will she be able to stop Clarissa? Who is Nick?
Right from the start I really liked Angel she’s such a sweetheart it’s hard not to like her. She’s exactly as I would expect for being in the roll of Cinderella as the daughter of a poor housekeeper who has to sever her best friends evil step girlfriend and daughter. I also really enjoyed Lily while she wasn’t in the whole story she was a great addition to the story after all she’s the one who came up with swapping places. I also thought Nick was perfect for Angel he’s exactly what she needed as she tried to fit in a world she wasn’t from.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started The Cinderella Moment other than a retelling of Cinderella which is one of my favorites. I really enjoyed the concept the way the author took the Cinderella idea and added her own unique twists creating a captivating new story. The Cinderella Moment is a coming of age novel filled with secrets, adventure, romance and evil step-girlfriend and daughter. I found the whole novel intriguing it was hard to put down I almost stayed up all night to just finish. One of my favorite Cinderella retellings so far I loved the modern twists it was so fun and exciting. I enjoyed the authors writing and feel she did a beautiful job weaving an intricate story. I loved the characters I was able to connect with them and found myself cheering for Angel and that the evil steps would get what they deserve. The Cinderella Moment is also one of those stories that plays with your heart strings I found it an emotional roller coaster in a good way I love my characters to feel real and have issues. The ending was perfect I even brought a few tears to my eyes love a happy ever after. This is my first novel by the author and I can’t wait to check out her other books. Loved this one so much, and can see myself reading it again.
Lily doesn’t want to spend the two weeks’ in Paris she’s interested in acting and wants to spend the two weeks in London at a theater program. When the idea comes up of sending Angel to Paris because her grandmother doesn’t know what she looks like and Lily can go to London Angels is against it. When Angel’s mother suddenly falls ill she’s forced to choose between her mother’s care and entering the Teen Couture. By not entering the Teen Couture Clarissa will enter her designs claiming them as her own which doesn’t sit well with Angel but she doesn’t see any other options. The girls decide to go with the plan sending Angel off to Paris to pretend to be Lily and stop Clarissa from entering her designs. Will Lily’s grandmother believe that Angel is her? Will she be able to stop Clarissa? Who is Nick?
Right from the start I really liked Angel she’s such a sweetheart it’s hard not to like her. She’s exactly as I would expect for being in the roll of Cinderella as the daughter of a poor housekeeper who has to sever her best friends evil step girlfriend and daughter. I also really enjoyed Lily while she wasn’t in the whole story she was a great addition to the story after all she’s the one who came up with swapping places. I also thought Nick was perfect for Angel he’s exactly what she needed as she tried to fit in a world she wasn’t from.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started The Cinderella Moment other than a retelling of Cinderella which is one of my favorites. I really enjoyed the concept the way the author took the Cinderella idea and added her own unique twists creating a captivating new story. The Cinderella Moment is a coming of age novel filled with secrets, adventure, romance and evil step-girlfriend and daughter. I found the whole novel intriguing it was hard to put down I almost stayed up all night to just finish. One of my favorite Cinderella retellings so far I loved the modern twists it was so fun and exciting. I enjoyed the authors writing and feel she did a beautiful job weaving an intricate story. I loved the characters I was able to connect with them and found myself cheering for Angel and that the evil steps would get what they deserve. The Cinderella Moment is also one of those stories that plays with your heart strings I found it an emotional roller coaster in a good way I love my characters to feel real and have issues. The ending was perfect I even brought a few tears to my eyes love a happy ever after. This is my first novel by the author and I can’t wait to check out her other books. Loved this one so much, and can see myself reading it again.
July 26, 2013
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle 24th July 2013:
RATING: 4.5 DELIGHTFUL STARS!
'Fortuna favet fortibus,' he repeated.
'It's Latin for "Fortune favours the bold."
This was a rather surprise read for me. I was expecting to kind of know the story I was in for , being a Cinderella moment and all, but, no, Jennifer kept throwing in little curveballs.
Sure there was an evilly annoying step sister-to-be and an evilly annoying step mother-to-be, but there were some lovely curveballs thrown in.
I must say this was an unexpectedly delightful read.
Angel and her mother Simone live with Lily and her father, Philip. Yes, Philip is worth a motsa and yes, the horrid Margot and her daughter Clarissa have wormed their way into Lily’s father’s life, but that is where it stops.
Angel is brilliant at fashion and she wants to enter the Teen Couture, that gets held in Paris every year. One thing leads to another and Lily needs her best friends help in her own pursuit of a career, one her father does not support.
Shenanigans ensue and Angel finds herself pretending to be Lily de Tourney and fool the Comtesse, Lily’s grandmother.
Enter Nick Halliday the dashing young man who thinks he is reacquainting himself with his old friend Lily, who he last saw when she was only five.
I can see Disney would have such fun with this book, and Selena Gomez...I am so not type casting her, but she would be fun in a movie about this book.
But, there are the curveballs that I found very welcoming to this story. I even had a bit of a girlie cry at the end. Once you get near the end, you can start doing the math and you can see where it is going , but I was held ransom to all of that until near the end.
It was a truly fairy tale ending. I would have loved to have given Clarissa and her mother a stinky dead fish slap, they were a piece of work. But, in saying that, I do love a good villain or two, not that they were real villains, more of a case of, ‘what does Philip see in these two?’
All I can say is when one practices to deceive...well...pay the consequences.
A very clean YA read with a definite Cinderella Moment that I really enjoyed. I certainly would have loved to have been in Paris experiencing what Angel experienced.
Kind of a dream for a teenager.
I was in Paris when I was eighteen and it was nice reliving the sightseeing through this book.
* sigh*
This one played out in my head like a movie.
A modern , delightful story about friendship and sticking up for yourself. Throw in a dash of Gangnam style, breath taking fashion, a romantic city and a dream that can come true... you just got to be bold! There is always someone waiting , wanting to take you down and that is what an evil step sister by association is there for.
Michelle
RATING: 4.5 DELIGHTFUL STARS!
'Fortuna favet fortibus,' he repeated.
'It's Latin for "Fortune favours the bold."
This was a rather surprise read for me. I was expecting to kind of know the story I was in for , being a Cinderella moment and all, but, no, Jennifer kept throwing in little curveballs.
Sure there was an evilly annoying step sister-to-be and an evilly annoying step mother-to-be, but there were some lovely curveballs thrown in.
I must say this was an unexpectedly delightful read.
Angel and her mother Simone live with Lily and her father, Philip. Yes, Philip is worth a motsa and yes, the horrid Margot and her daughter Clarissa have wormed their way into Lily’s father’s life, but that is where it stops.
Angel is brilliant at fashion and she wants to enter the Teen Couture, that gets held in Paris every year. One thing leads to another and Lily needs her best friends help in her own pursuit of a career, one her father does not support.
Shenanigans ensue and Angel finds herself pretending to be Lily de Tourney and fool the Comtesse, Lily’s grandmother.
Enter Nick Halliday the dashing young man who thinks he is reacquainting himself with his old friend Lily, who he last saw when she was only five.
I can see Disney would have such fun with this book, and Selena Gomez...I am so not type casting her, but she would be fun in a movie about this book.
But, there are the curveballs that I found very welcoming to this story. I even had a bit of a girlie cry at the end. Once you get near the end, you can start doing the math and you can see where it is going , but I was held ransom to all of that until near the end.
It was a truly fairy tale ending. I would have loved to have given Clarissa and her mother a stinky dead fish slap, they were a piece of work. But, in saying that, I do love a good villain or two, not that they were real villains, more of a case of, ‘what does Philip see in these two?’
All I can say is when one practices to deceive...well...pay the consequences.
A very clean YA read with a definite Cinderella Moment that I really enjoyed. I certainly would have loved to have been in Paris experiencing what Angel experienced.
Kind of a dream for a teenager.
I was in Paris when I was eighteen and it was nice reliving the sightseeing through this book.
* sigh*
This one played out in my head like a movie.
A modern , delightful story about friendship and sticking up for yourself. Throw in a dash of Gangnam style, breath taking fashion, a romantic city and a dream that can come true... you just got to be bold! There is always someone waiting , wanting to take you down and that is what an evil step sister by association is there for.
Michelle
December 28, 2015
This book was amazing! I love the idea of going to Paris, now going to Paris in order to take back what rightfully belongs to you, is an adventure worth reading about.
I loved the scheme and it was exciting to see how the large web of entangled lies would fold out. It was also very refreshing to be able to hate on the antagonists without being given their backstory and a reason to feel sorry for them.
Personally I don't understand the world of fashion, but this book gave me a wonderful insight into what it was like to be an aristocrat in the city of Paris and the importance and passion for fashion surrounding their daily lives.
The plot twists were endless and by the end of the book, you're filled with the satisfaction of everything playing out and knowing the truth of more than what you bargain for in the beginning. It was a beautiful read.
I loved the scheme and it was exciting to see how the large web of entangled lies would fold out. It was also very refreshing to be able to hate on the antagonists without being given their backstory and a reason to feel sorry for them.
Personally I don't understand the world of fashion, but this book gave me a wonderful insight into what it was like to be an aristocrat in the city of Paris and the importance and passion for fashion surrounding their daily lives.
The plot twists were endless and by the end of the book, you're filled with the satisfaction of everything playing out and knowing the truth of more than what you bargain for in the beginning. It was a beautiful read.
December 23, 2015
Cinderella has always been one of my all time favourite fairy tales and this book followed it true to the story line (but with better adaptations). It captured my heart completely and because I myself know how hard it is to sew I felt Angels joy as she completed her visions. A book about Paris, passion, betrayal, truth, fashion, romance and above all following your dreams. And now I have another favourite quote "Fortuna favet fortibus - Fortune favours the bold"
April 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, after picking it up totally on a whim because I was totally in love with the cover. Yup, judged a book by its cover and it paid off. Such a fun story of family, fashion, chasing dreams and friendship. I loved the different relationships and the way Angel grew throughout the story. Great story and can't wait to read more fiction by this author.
August 17, 2013
I adored this book and it made me think of Sabrina meets Anna and the French Kiss.
October 5, 2014
First thing: WHY WASN'T THIS LONGER? I NEEDED MORE OF A RESOLUTION!
This story follows Angel (Angelique), who wants to be a fashion designer but has no connections or money. Angel lives with her mother who is a cook for the de Tourney's.
Lily is the only child of Philip de Tourney and Angel's best friend. When Lily is offered a one in a lifetime opportunity to attend a summer acting school she grabs it. But how is that to be, when Lily is meant to be in Paris visiting her Grandmama for two weeks?
This is where Angel comes in. After much convincing she is off to Paris in Lily's place.
Over the two weeks we meet many characters one being Nick.
And that is all I'm going to say.
What I liked:
I liked the idea of this book, it was well thought out, but not executed as amazingly as it could have been.
Nick. Yeah, what can I say, I have a thing for fictional male characters haha. But really he was sweet and lovely.
I also really liked the Grandmama. She was lovely, and had IMPECCABLE fashion sense.
I also liked how this was a retelling of Cinderella, that was a little unusual (for reasons).
What I didn't like:
How easily Nick and Angel developed feelings, and in their words love for each other. It was insta love, which was fine. But it was a little too much too soon.
Angel at times. I felt that at parts she had a few screws missing, but than a little later, she'd be smart again.
Another character flaw, was that they seemed flat or 2D. They were entertaining, but I felt though they were well developed, we didn't explore them enough, or get to see their full character arc.
The pacing, it felt off. At times it was nicely paced, and towards the end it felt, "OH MAN, I HAVE TO FIT THE COMPLETE END AND RESOLUTION INTO 30 PAGES", yeah I did not really enjoy that. And I really really wish there was another 30-50 pages to this story (because it was really short).
Another thing, the book was only 300 pages, but it contained A LOT of dialogue, which was fine, but I felt there should have been more descriptions within the book as well...
Overall:
I enjoyed this. But I didn't love it. I did really want more, and yes I will read the companion novel in hopes that we will get to see more of this story in it (hopefully).
I liked the spin and take on the cinderella fairytale.
I liked the fashion within it. I liked the characters though they weren't that 'deep'.
I liked the ending, though I wish it wasn't the ending and that it had another 30 pages AT LEAST.
I recommend this book for anyone who likes fashion, or guys. haha.
:)
This story follows Angel (Angelique), who wants to be a fashion designer but has no connections or money. Angel lives with her mother who is a cook for the de Tourney's.
Lily is the only child of Philip de Tourney and Angel's best friend. When Lily is offered a one in a lifetime opportunity to attend a summer acting school she grabs it. But how is that to be, when Lily is meant to be in Paris visiting her Grandmama for two weeks?
This is where Angel comes in. After much convincing she is off to Paris in Lily's place.
Over the two weeks we meet many characters one being Nick.
And that is all I'm going to say.
What I liked:
I liked the idea of this book, it was well thought out, but not executed as amazingly as it could have been.
Nick. Yeah, what can I say, I have a thing for fictional male characters haha. But really he was sweet and lovely.
I also really liked the Grandmama. She was lovely, and had IMPECCABLE fashion sense.
I also liked how this was a retelling of Cinderella, that was a little unusual (for reasons).
What I didn't like:
How easily Nick and Angel developed feelings, and in their words love for each other. It was insta love, which was fine. But it was a little too much too soon.
Angel at times. I felt that at parts she had a few screws missing, but than a little later, she'd be smart again.
Another character flaw, was that they seemed flat or 2D. They were entertaining, but I felt though they were well developed, we didn't explore them enough, or get to see their full character arc.
The pacing, it felt off. At times it was nicely paced, and towards the end it felt, "OH MAN, I HAVE TO FIT THE COMPLETE END AND RESOLUTION INTO 30 PAGES", yeah I did not really enjoy that. And I really really wish there was another 30-50 pages to this story (because it was really short).
Another thing, the book was only 300 pages, but it contained A LOT of dialogue, which was fine, but I felt there should have been more descriptions within the book as well...
Overall:
I enjoyed this. But I didn't love it. I did really want more, and yes I will read the companion novel in hopes that we will get to see more of this story in it (hopefully).
I liked the spin and take on the cinderella fairytale.
I liked the fashion within it. I liked the characters though they weren't that 'deep'.
I liked the ending, though I wish it wasn't the ending and that it had another 30 pages AT LEAST.
I recommend this book for anyone who likes fashion, or guys. haha.
:)
February 3, 2017
"Fortune favors the bold"
What a sweet Cinderella retelling! It was very interesting, funny, refreshing...just perfect from every aspect.
Angel, the main character, was a teen fashion designer trying to follow her dream. Something I have to admit here is that I've never been into fashion and name-brand designers, so the fashion talk went right over my head, but the imagery was so beautifully written that I could see all of Angel's creations coming to life. Moving forward to Angel, she was a really adorable, genuinely nice person who was living with her headstrong, really awesome best friend Lily. They'd grown up side by side almost as sisters and even though Lily came from a wealthy background while Angel was from the servant class, their bond of friendship was very strong. That being said, my favorite parts of the book were: the time they spent together, the adventures they had together and each one on their own trying to achieve their goals, the learning process of "stand up for yourself" and of forgiving. The love story was also really well-constructed with many layers behind the interest at first sight.
The plot became a little bit insane towards the ending with so many turns and twists, which actually grew into nice surprises along the way and it was one of those stories with the happy ending guaranteed!
All in all, the story was hopeful, absolutely lovely and made my heart feel full ❤
What a sweet Cinderella retelling! It was very interesting, funny, refreshing...just perfect from every aspect.
Angel, the main character, was a teen fashion designer trying to follow her dream. Something I have to admit here is that I've never been into fashion and name-brand designers, so the fashion talk went right over my head, but the imagery was so beautifully written that I could see all of Angel's creations coming to life. Moving forward to Angel, she was a really adorable, genuinely nice person who was living with her headstrong, really awesome best friend Lily. They'd grown up side by side almost as sisters and even though Lily came from a wealthy background while Angel was from the servant class, their bond of friendship was very strong. That being said, my favorite parts of the book were: the time they spent together, the adventures they had together and each one on their own trying to achieve their goals, the learning process of "stand up for yourself" and of forgiving. The love story was also really well-constructed with many layers behind the interest at first sight.
The plot became a little bit insane towards the ending with so many turns and twists, which actually grew into nice surprises along the way and it was one of those stories with the happy ending guaranteed!
All in all, the story was hopeful, absolutely lovely and made my heart feel full ❤
October 9, 2015
All Angel Moncoeur wanted was have her chance at winning the Teen Couture contest. When her designs are stolen from her nemesis, Celeste who lives in the same house and makes her distaste of Angel well known, she is livid. Fortunately her best friend Lily comes up with a plan. Lily is the daughter of Phillip who owns the house, Celeste is the daughter of the woman Lily despises and her father seems intent on marrying. Of course he is out of town when everything goes awry and Lily is summoned to meet her estranged Grandmother in Paris.
Lily wants Angel to pretend to be her while Lily has an agenda of her own. This gives Angel one shot to prove she is the true designer, while pretending she is Lily. Angel doesn't expect to meet Nick who she is quickly falling for and although she wants to confess who she really is, she becomes quite attached to the Grandmother. As the weight of deception weighs heavily and treachery is still following her, everything is about to fall apart.
There is a lot of little details to this story making it difficult to fully explain. I liked Angel and from the very beginning she is kind of forced into the deception and she does try to rectify the situation but circumstances prevent it. If you like stories with a fairy tale type twist, this is one to definitely pick up.
Lily wants Angel to pretend to be her while Lily has an agenda of her own. This gives Angel one shot to prove she is the true designer, while pretending she is Lily. Angel doesn't expect to meet Nick who she is quickly falling for and although she wants to confess who she really is, she becomes quite attached to the Grandmother. As the weight of deception weighs heavily and treachery is still following her, everything is about to fall apart.
There is a lot of little details to this story making it difficult to fully explain. I liked Angel and from the very beginning she is kind of forced into the deception and she does try to rectify the situation but circumstances prevent it. If you like stories with a fairy tale type twist, this is one to definitely pick up.
October 13, 2013
People who loves FASHION, COUTURE and PARIS will surely like this book. The Cinderella Moment is indeed a very refreshing YA novel. If you're used to reading YA, for sure you'll be a bit surprise that this one has less drama but still manage to touch it's reader's hearts. With it's interesting twist, Jennifer Kloester has proven that a book doesn't need to be that intriguing or unique for it to be called a good book. One thing i liked about in this book is that, it makes me want to finish it after I've read the first chapter.
January 7, 2018
I came across this book accidentally. I was searching for some light reading material and I fell in love with Angel-Lily duo immediately.
The aspiring to-be-fashion-designer Angel impressed me though Lily came off little whiny.
Angel's turbulent state of mind when she is in France is described very effectively.
However after that the book takes some cliche turns.
I loved to read this modern fairy tale and looking forward to read 'The Rapunzel Dilemma'.
The aspiring to-be-fashion-designer Angel impressed me though Lily came off little whiny.
Angel's turbulent state of mind when she is in France is described very effectively.
However after that the book takes some cliche turns.
I loved to read this modern fairy tale and looking forward to read 'The Rapunzel Dilemma'.
December 25, 2015
Amazing, beautiful modern fairy tale.
January 18, 2025
In the beginning, we start reading about Angel and Lily and the relationship between each other. During the beginning we also learn about their life and background. It started off slow, it took me a few chapters to fully get immersed into the story but once I did I enjoyed it immensely.
At first, I had been slightly confused because I forgot who the protagonist was when I started reading because it sort of read as omniscient third person but only a little later did I remember that Angel was the main character. Once I figured that out it was easier to read. I liked it better when Lily and Angel went their separate ways because I could read easier because I didn't get as confused between who was who in the story. I enjoyed the rest of the story once I got into the groove of reading but I think it could have been a bit quicker to get to the incited event.
After a few chapters I really got immersed into the story, I like where the author takes Angel and how all the events all coincide. It definitely is interesting to see such a high lifestyle and I loved seeing Paris. As someone from the middle class, I don't know what a high class life is like with the exception of watching TV shows or movies. I'm also not the type of person to care about fashion, brand names escape me, but I definitely can appreciate the artistic nature of creating a design and bringing it to life. As I read, I can't say that I didn't see the end coming because I did. I guessed it about half way through but I still liked it and how the author executed it.
I liked all the characters, they felt fairly real to me, except the bad women because they didn't feel as complex as I'd like. I would have liked to see a little behind why they acted the way they did but it's not a huge issue for me but would have made them more real for me. I didn't have a problem with the other characters but sort of wished there had been a little more growth or development among the higher class kids.
I feel that the writing is smooth and the pace for the rest of the book read easily to me. I enjoyed the squeamish situations the character got into but I wish it had been more brutal. I know that sounds bad, but I feel like things were a little too easy for her. Things just fell together or happened at just the right moment at crucial times in the story. Not a huge issue but I think if the stakes were raised a little I was have enjoyed the story more.
I did have a little qualm with the American accent, perhaps it's different in other parts of the world but when the characters, who are supposedly American, say they'll "ring" someone on the phone. I would say, as a Midwestern American, "call" someone if I were to phone someone. That read as a more European way of phoning someone which I thought it was odd since the characters are from New York. I don't know many people from New York so this may be completely valid but it's an extremely minor detail but it did confuse me for a moment.
Overall, this is a wonderful "feel-good" story that any person with an artistic dream can relate to and enjoy. It has all the makings of a nice contemporary romance but I like how the romance wasn't the sole focus of the story. I love how the character got her "Cinderlla moment" by her own hard work and not by some magical help. I would have liked to see more friendships develop but it's still a book I would recommend to all readers who like a fresh "Cinderella" underdog story.
3.6 out of 5 rating for me!
(A copy was provided for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way.)
At first, I had been slightly confused because I forgot who the protagonist was when I started reading because it sort of read as omniscient third person but only a little later did I remember that Angel was the main character. Once I figured that out it was easier to read. I liked it better when Lily and Angel went their separate ways because I could read easier because I didn't get as confused between who was who in the story. I enjoyed the rest of the story once I got into the groove of reading but I think it could have been a bit quicker to get to the incited event.
After a few chapters I really got immersed into the story, I like where the author takes Angel and how all the events all coincide. It definitely is interesting to see such a high lifestyle and I loved seeing Paris. As someone from the middle class, I don't know what a high class life is like with the exception of watching TV shows or movies. I'm also not the type of person to care about fashion, brand names escape me, but I definitely can appreciate the artistic nature of creating a design and bringing it to life. As I read, I can't say that I didn't see the end coming because I did. I guessed it about half way through but I still liked it and how the author executed it.
I liked all the characters, they felt fairly real to me, except the bad women because they didn't feel as complex as I'd like. I would have liked to see a little behind why they acted the way they did but it's not a huge issue for me but would have made them more real for me. I didn't have a problem with the other characters but sort of wished there had been a little more growth or development among the higher class kids.
I feel that the writing is smooth and the pace for the rest of the book read easily to me. I enjoyed the squeamish situations the character got into but I wish it had been more brutal. I know that sounds bad, but I feel like things were a little too easy for her. Things just fell together or happened at just the right moment at crucial times in the story. Not a huge issue but I think if the stakes were raised a little I was have enjoyed the story more.
I did have a little qualm with the American accent, perhaps it's different in other parts of the world but when the characters, who are supposedly American, say they'll "ring" someone on the phone. I would say, as a Midwestern American, "call" someone if I were to phone someone. That read as a more European way of phoning someone which I thought it was odd since the characters are from New York. I don't know many people from New York so this may be completely valid but it's an extremely minor detail but it did confuse me for a moment.
Overall, this is a wonderful "feel-good" story that any person with an artistic dream can relate to and enjoy. It has all the makings of a nice contemporary romance but I like how the romance wasn't the sole focus of the story. I love how the character got her "Cinderlla moment" by her own hard work and not by some magical help. I would have liked to see more friendships develop but it's still a book I would recommend to all readers who like a fresh "Cinderella" underdog story.
3.6 out of 5 rating for me!
(A copy was provided for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way.)
October 8, 2017
It was honestly such a beautiful book! I really loved the whole thing, and the ending was such a plot twister and the whole book was just beautiful!
I think the thing that was lacking was the cover, book title and the blurb.
I was pretty close to not getting this book bc the cover was a little bit childish I guess, and the blurb wasn't that intriguing, and the title wasn't really my kind of book.
But the book itself was actually amazing! It was soo good and I loved the storyline, the clothes (especially the clothes), the characters, it was just good!
It's a little bit like 'The Selection', but not as much depth and the plot wasn't as big, because this is a standalone book.
But the ending was amazing, I really love the name of the main character 'Angel', and I love how the story unfolds! The clothes were really awesome though, and the big twist at the end was LIT!!
I think that if the book cover got more modernised to appeal to a wider age group audience and the title got a little catchier, and the blurb became more captivating (because the book itself was so much better than the blurb!), a lot more people would read this book!
I think the thing that was lacking was the cover, book title and the blurb.
I was pretty close to not getting this book bc the cover was a little bit childish I guess, and the blurb wasn't that intriguing, and the title wasn't really my kind of book.
But the book itself was actually amazing! It was soo good and I loved the storyline, the clothes (especially the clothes), the characters, it was just good!
It's a little bit like 'The Selection', but not as much depth and the plot wasn't as big, because this is a standalone book.
But the ending was amazing, I really love the name of the main character 'Angel', and I love how the story unfolds! The clothes were really awesome though, and the big twist at the end was LIT!!
I think that if the book cover got more modernised to appeal to a wider age group audience and the title got a little catchier, and the blurb became more captivating (because the book itself was so much better than the blurb!), a lot more people would read this book!
July 30, 2013
Angel wants nothing more than to be a fashion designer but as the poor daughter of a housekeeper/cook without the financial advantage to back her study and source materials, she knows her best chance is a competition. She intends to enter the Teen Couture competition, run by one of the most influential designers in the world, and she thinks she can win.
But then the unthinkable happens and Angel finds that someone has stolen her designs to submit as her own. Offered the chance to go to Paris, where the announcement for the winner of the competition will be held in order to help out someone else who can’t be in two places at once, Angel allows herself to be convinced to go. She hopes to swap the stolen designs for that entrant’s originals, which she knows are just subpar copies of her own. However the catch is that in Paris, Angel will have to pretend to be someone else, which is a lot harder than it sounds.
Life in Paris is a whirl of shopping, meeting designers and having fittings for the ultimate ballgown, polo, lunches and parties. She begins to feel incredibly guilty about deceiving people, including the woman who thinks that Angel is her granddaughter Lily, whom she hasn’t seen since she was 5. Then Angel also meets Nick, her own Prince Charming and she wonders if he’s falling for her, or the person that he thinks she is.
The trouble with secrets is that they always come out in the end and Angel stands to lose horribly, but not only that she will hurt people that she has come to care about. It’s going to be hard for this Cinderella to get her happy ever after.
The Cinderella Moment is a cute little contemporary young adult story that borrows a little from the fairy tale. Angel is the daughter of a cook/housekeeper for a wealthy man but her and her mother are a part of the family as much as they can be. Angel is best friends with her mother’s employer’s daughter Lily and has always been made feel involved and welcome. Although her mother Simone and her employer maintain a respectful proper distance there’s no such thing between the two daughters. Angel desperately wants to be a fashion designer and spends her spare time designing, sketching and sourcing the best materials she can on her meager budget to put together pieces that show her raw talent. She thinks that she has really begun to put together a great collection to enter into the Teen Couture competition and she is devastated to realise that someone staying in the house has stolen her designs and had them made to pass off as their own. They have money and influence but little talent and Angel feels as though she has to stand up for herself, expose them as the frauds they are.
The irony is that in order to do that, she must deceive herself, pretending to be Lily staying with her estranged grandmother in Paris. Angel struggles in the social settings, not used to some of the customs and I don’t know much about Paris in the summer time for the rich, but the social outings are numerous and exhausting. However the benefits quickly make themselves known – the beautiful clothes she gets to try on and have fitted as a Comtesse’s granddaughter are amazing and she meets the very famous designer who hosts the Teen Couture competition. And then there’s Nick… The attraction between them simmers and they have a great time as he shows her around Paris. Angel can see herself really falling for him and they’re perfect together except for the fact that he thinks that she’s someone else.
I’m not really a high fashion kind of girl. I don’t know (or care) about labels and couture. I like looking at the dresses movie stars wear to events but I don’t really care to know who they’re by or what the fabric is or the cut etc. There’s a lot of that in this book obviously as Angel is obsessed with fashion and she wants to make it her life. I did find it difficult to visualise some of the dresses (I needed some sort of gallery at the end of the book) but the details about Paris (the food, the balls, doing the ‘touristy’ things with Nick) were awesome. A good book always makes you want to go to Paris and experience it for yourself and this one definitely did that.
However, I do feel that the time spent on the book before Angel goes to Paris is too long and then the time in Paris too short. Everything happens with Nick at a breakneck pace and the way in which she successfully integrates Paris society (I know her grandmother is famous and the queen of Parisian society but still). Angel makes several faux pas on her first day but after that she seems to slide in effortlessly and I would’ve thought it’d have taken longer for her to adjust to something so utterly different to home. I thought the last third of the book was by far the strongest, story wise. I actually found myself wishing towards the end that the book had been a little longer! I loved a lot of the reveals that came and the way in which Angel handled herself. She knew that she’d obviously done the wrong thing and been deceptive but I think it was also really obvious that had she not done that, many very important things would never have come out and the characters within the novel would’ve have been able to put past hurts behind them and move forward to embrace happiness. It was kind of a “wrong idea, right results” type of thing and it was enjoyable to watch everything come out.
But then the unthinkable happens and Angel finds that someone has stolen her designs to submit as her own. Offered the chance to go to Paris, where the announcement for the winner of the competition will be held in order to help out someone else who can’t be in two places at once, Angel allows herself to be convinced to go. She hopes to swap the stolen designs for that entrant’s originals, which she knows are just subpar copies of her own. However the catch is that in Paris, Angel will have to pretend to be someone else, which is a lot harder than it sounds.
Life in Paris is a whirl of shopping, meeting designers and having fittings for the ultimate ballgown, polo, lunches and parties. She begins to feel incredibly guilty about deceiving people, including the woman who thinks that Angel is her granddaughter Lily, whom she hasn’t seen since she was 5. Then Angel also meets Nick, her own Prince Charming and she wonders if he’s falling for her, or the person that he thinks she is.
The trouble with secrets is that they always come out in the end and Angel stands to lose horribly, but not only that she will hurt people that she has come to care about. It’s going to be hard for this Cinderella to get her happy ever after.
The Cinderella Moment is a cute little contemporary young adult story that borrows a little from the fairy tale. Angel is the daughter of a cook/housekeeper for a wealthy man but her and her mother are a part of the family as much as they can be. Angel is best friends with her mother’s employer’s daughter Lily and has always been made feel involved and welcome. Although her mother Simone and her employer maintain a respectful proper distance there’s no such thing between the two daughters. Angel desperately wants to be a fashion designer and spends her spare time designing, sketching and sourcing the best materials she can on her meager budget to put together pieces that show her raw talent. She thinks that she has really begun to put together a great collection to enter into the Teen Couture competition and she is devastated to realise that someone staying in the house has stolen her designs and had them made to pass off as their own. They have money and influence but little talent and Angel feels as though she has to stand up for herself, expose them as the frauds they are.
The irony is that in order to do that, she must deceive herself, pretending to be Lily staying with her estranged grandmother in Paris. Angel struggles in the social settings, not used to some of the customs and I don’t know much about Paris in the summer time for the rich, but the social outings are numerous and exhausting. However the benefits quickly make themselves known – the beautiful clothes she gets to try on and have fitted as a Comtesse’s granddaughter are amazing and she meets the very famous designer who hosts the Teen Couture competition. And then there’s Nick… The attraction between them simmers and they have a great time as he shows her around Paris. Angel can see herself really falling for him and they’re perfect together except for the fact that he thinks that she’s someone else.
I’m not really a high fashion kind of girl. I don’t know (or care) about labels and couture. I like looking at the dresses movie stars wear to events but I don’t really care to know who they’re by or what the fabric is or the cut etc. There’s a lot of that in this book obviously as Angel is obsessed with fashion and she wants to make it her life. I did find it difficult to visualise some of the dresses (I needed some sort of gallery at the end of the book) but the details about Paris (the food, the balls, doing the ‘touristy’ things with Nick) were awesome. A good book always makes you want to go to Paris and experience it for yourself and this one definitely did that.
However, I do feel that the time spent on the book before Angel goes to Paris is too long and then the time in Paris too short. Everything happens with Nick at a breakneck pace and the way in which she successfully integrates Paris society (I know her grandmother is famous and the queen of Parisian society but still). Angel makes several faux pas on her first day but after that she seems to slide in effortlessly and I would’ve thought it’d have taken longer for her to adjust to something so utterly different to home. I thought the last third of the book was by far the strongest, story wise. I actually found myself wishing towards the end that the book had been a little longer! I loved a lot of the reveals that came and the way in which Angel handled herself. She knew that she’d obviously done the wrong thing and been deceptive but I think it was also really obvious that had she not done that, many very important things would never have come out and the characters within the novel would’ve have been able to put past hurts behind them and move forward to embrace happiness. It was kind of a “wrong idea, right results” type of thing and it was enjoyable to watch everything come out.
September 1, 2013
WHAT I LIKED
The characters. Overall I felt like they were well thought out, though regarding the more minor adult characters (Simone, Philip) I would have liked more showing and less telling, which made overall characterization a like and not a love for me. And while I loved Angel, her name was not my favorite part of her character. I hate saying stuff like that because it may seem so trivial, but names are kind of my thing, and this one stuck out as a wrong note for me. *BUT* really and truly, I loved her character so much.
The villainesses. I felt like I wanted Margot and Clarissa to either be a little more complex (in other words to have some positive attributes) and/or further redefined from the original Cinderella tale. I think the truly great villains in YA create cognitive dissonance in the reader. That said, these hookers were easy to hate for sure. So they were a Like in that I liked hating them. A lot.
WHAT I LOVED
Nick is a pretty awesome book boyfriend, and the author does a great job of building their romance in an authentic way. I think the digs Angel made on him being a much better catch than most American boys is a sad reality for today's teen girls. And while he was a little over the top I felt like that suited the story pretty perfectly. **mini spoiler in the next sentence only** I do wish they'd had a really good fight, though.
The fashion plot line. I think beyond the popularity of Project Runway and all the other fashion reality shows that target teen viewers, more and more traditional high schools are offering fashion design electives or magnet programs. So this is obviously something teens connect with, and it was fun to see a fashion plot line that went beyond having trendy clothes to wear or dressing like the popular kids. Because while pretty clothes are awesome, they're FULL of win if you make them yourself.
This is a sweet story that it's easy to get sucked into. Once the conflict between Angel and Clarissa bubbled to the surface I was emotionally invested in the outcome.
I loved how much fun this was to read. I've mentioned before that I'm not a big fan of what I like to call PinkLit--lighthearted, girlie, romantic ish. But this really was a fun exception to that rule for me. I may have even caught myself saying "oh snap!" more than once.
**SPOILER ALERT IN NEXT PARAGRAPH**
I loooooved that, in the end, Lily rescues herself. She uses her strengths and skills to set things right. She's assertive without being a bitch. She's smart at no one's expense. And she creates her own happy ending. I think that was my favorite part of this read--when Philip didn't show up at the top of the staircase and Lily knew she had to go it alone. And she did.
WHAT I WANTED MORE OF
Energy out of the gate. The author breaks what I feel is the most important rule of hooking the reader: beginning on the day that things change. For me, nothing really changed until around chp 7 and the pace felt super slow leading up to that point. I think that's especially important in a retelling where we sort of already have an idea of where we're headed.
Less--not more--backstory. While I found some of it interesting, it slowed the pace. Particularly in the chapter leading up to the climax, there's a whole lot of backstory presented as dialogue, which for me feels like cheating and isn't a lot of fun to read. Large blocks of text, even if they're dialogue, make me tempted to skim. I wanted less second hand story telling. I didn't feel like the reader needed to rehash the plot when Angel and Lily explain the Philip what happened.
More liberty with the retelling. I couldn't help comparing this to Cinder as I read even though they are TOTALLY different animals. I think what makes a good retelling is the author's unique spin on the story--creating a world that is not only different from the original, but unique in its own right. While the fashion aspect definitely sets this story apart from the fairytale, as well as placing it in a modern, non-royal setting, I still wanted more originality. This probably is due at least in part to my aversion to all things PinkLit, not to mention that I am slightly obsessed with Cinder's brilliant world-building. This was still a very fun read, though!
A nickname for the Contesse other than Grandmama. At the risk of being bitchpicky, Grandmama is not French for Grandma or a nickname commonly used, though Grandmaman is occassionally among upper crust, so I suppose that's where the author was headed. My grandmere was called Mémé or Mame (because us American kids ruin things with our accents). But every time I saw the word Grandmama I thought of this:
![description]()
Like I said--bitchpicky.
Short story long, if you like pink books, chicklit, or are a sucker for romantic stories with a happy ending, this is a book for you. And even if you're like me and your usual cup of tea is something a little more like scotch, you should probably give it a chance, too.
The characters. Overall I felt like they were well thought out, though regarding the more minor adult characters (Simone, Philip) I would have liked more showing and less telling, which made overall characterization a like and not a love for me. And while I loved Angel, her name was not my favorite part of her character. I hate saying stuff like that because it may seem so trivial, but names are kind of my thing, and this one stuck out as a wrong note for me. *BUT* really and truly, I loved her character so much.
The villainesses. I felt like I wanted Margot and Clarissa to either be a little more complex (in other words to have some positive attributes) and/or further redefined from the original Cinderella tale. I think the truly great villains in YA create cognitive dissonance in the reader. That said, these hookers were easy to hate for sure. So they were a Like in that I liked hating them. A lot.
WHAT I LOVED
Nick is a pretty awesome book boyfriend, and the author does a great job of building their romance in an authentic way. I think the digs Angel made on him being a much better catch than most American boys is a sad reality for today's teen girls. And while he was a little over the top I felt like that suited the story pretty perfectly. **mini spoiler in the next sentence only** I do wish they'd had a really good fight, though.
The fashion plot line. I think beyond the popularity of Project Runway and all the other fashion reality shows that target teen viewers, more and more traditional high schools are offering fashion design electives or magnet programs. So this is obviously something teens connect with, and it was fun to see a fashion plot line that went beyond having trendy clothes to wear or dressing like the popular kids. Because while pretty clothes are awesome, they're FULL of win if you make them yourself.
This is a sweet story that it's easy to get sucked into. Once the conflict between Angel and Clarissa bubbled to the surface I was emotionally invested in the outcome.
I loved how much fun this was to read. I've mentioned before that I'm not a big fan of what I like to call PinkLit--lighthearted, girlie, romantic ish. But this really was a fun exception to that rule for me. I may have even caught myself saying "oh snap!" more than once.
**SPOILER ALERT IN NEXT PARAGRAPH**
I loooooved that, in the end, Lily rescues herself. She uses her strengths and skills to set things right. She's assertive without being a bitch. She's smart at no one's expense. And she creates her own happy ending. I think that was my favorite part of this read--when Philip didn't show up at the top of the staircase and Lily knew she had to go it alone. And she did.
WHAT I WANTED MORE OF
Energy out of the gate. The author breaks what I feel is the most important rule of hooking the reader: beginning on the day that things change. For me, nothing really changed until around chp 7 and the pace felt super slow leading up to that point. I think that's especially important in a retelling where we sort of already have an idea of where we're headed.
Less--not more--backstory. While I found some of it interesting, it slowed the pace. Particularly in the chapter leading up to the climax, there's a whole lot of backstory presented as dialogue, which for me feels like cheating and isn't a lot of fun to read. Large blocks of text, even if they're dialogue, make me tempted to skim. I wanted less second hand story telling. I didn't feel like the reader needed to rehash the plot when Angel and Lily explain the Philip what happened.
More liberty with the retelling. I couldn't help comparing this to Cinder as I read even though they are TOTALLY different animals. I think what makes a good retelling is the author's unique spin on the story--creating a world that is not only different from the original, but unique in its own right. While the fashion aspect definitely sets this story apart from the fairytale, as well as placing it in a modern, non-royal setting, I still wanted more originality. This probably is due at least in part to my aversion to all things PinkLit, not to mention that I am slightly obsessed with Cinder's brilliant world-building. This was still a very fun read, though!
A nickname for the Contesse other than Grandmama. At the risk of being bitchpicky, Grandmama is not French for Grandma or a nickname commonly used, though Grandmaman is occassionally among upper crust, so I suppose that's where the author was headed. My grandmere was called Mémé or Mame (because us American kids ruin things with our accents). But every time I saw the word Grandmama I thought of this:
Like I said--bitchpicky.
Short story long, if you like pink books, chicklit, or are a sucker for romantic stories with a happy ending, this is a book for you. And even if you're like me and your usual cup of tea is something a little more like scotch, you should probably give it a chance, too.
February 6, 2019
A sweet retelling of Cinderella.
October 16, 2019
Loved it!
So fresh and well written even though I could see the end result I still had to keep reading
Well done!
So fresh and well written even though I could see the end result I still had to keep reading
Well done!
June 15, 2020
3 1/2 stars. Nice YA but felt a little rushed at the end.
May 12, 2021
3.5 a solid YA contemporary.
Glad to have finally read this after having it sit on my shelf for 8 years
Glad to have finally read this after having it sit on my shelf for 8 years
May 30, 2023
A joyous romp through Paris and the fashion world, with lots of name dropping and a very melodramatic ending. I got quite attached to Angel.
November 8, 2014
I’m nothing if not open-minded so despite my lack of interest in fashion I picked up this book, eager for the ‘modern fairytale’ concept, thinking that it sounded like a fun read. I’d been meaning to read it for a while and when I was approved on Netgalley for the companion novel The Rapunzel Dilemma I thought now was as good a time as ever to read it.
The Cinderella Moment is a modern fairytale retelling, complete with Cinderella, her evil stepmother and privileged stepsisters (one evil, the other her best friend). The king is absent (he travels a lot) so the evil stepmother has stepped in to take his place. In step the fairy godmother (or grandmother, in this case) to save the day. In this story, we have Angel, the daughter of the de Tourney’s housekeeper. Angel and Lily de Tourney are best friends, though Lily is decidedly more privileged than Angel this has never gotten in the way of their friendship before. Angel is a talented teenage fashion designer and Lily, the granddaughter of a Comtesse (French aristocracy) and aspiring actress, couldn’t care less for the fashion world that Angel dreams to be immersed into. So when the chance arises for Angel to go to Paris to visit the Comtesse (who hasn’t seen Lily since she was five) while Lily is at a summer school at the London Drama Academy. The only thing is Angel must pretend to be Lily. But they’ve got a plan, so what could possibly go wrong?
The Cinderella Moment is light and fluffy and reads like a romantic comedy or chick flick. It is something I could see myself watching while lounging around with my best friend eating lollies and just hanging out. This is exactly the kind of movie we would watch and we would enjoy it and describe it as ‘cute’ or ‘sweet’ as we talked over it while picking out the next movie. But as book, I felt like this just didn’t work as well because it just felt like something that would never happen, especially as the plot gets more and more involved in only 300 pages. Because as well as the Angel/Lily Swap (which reminded me of the Parent Trap), there’s also a more complex reason for Angel going to Paris, the Teen Couture fashion competition and also the theft of Angel’s designs and the sabotage of her own entry. Add to that some convoluted backstory for Lily’s dad and Angel’s mother (who is conveniently ill when all this takes place so henceforth no parental supervision) as well as the typical romance – there is a lot going on here!
In that sense, though, of being unrealistic it did live up to the fairy tale retelling vibe. It felt very fairytale-esque which is probably why I didn’t dislike it, which I easily could have. But the story felt a bit magical so I let myself get swept up in it and read it in a day (to be fair, though, I was procrastinating my study). I loved the friendship between Lily and Angel, although they were apart for most of the novel you could tell how much they cared for each other. The regal Comtesse, Lily’s grandmother, was my favourite character. She was just so ‘don’t mess with me’ and I liked watching her developing relationship with Angel pretending to be Lily. I really enjoyed the emphasis on family and mending bridges. You could tell the Comtesse’s heart was in the right place even if she didn’t always come across that way.
There was, of course, a love interest because this is a fairy tale and we can’t have a fairy tale without a Prince Charming can we? Nick was nice and sweet but the romance happened very quickly and when they were saying ‘I love you’ I was thinking ‘but you just met?’ Instalove. One of my biggest pet peeves. It was kind of dramatic, too, with super cheesy lines. It annoys me when teenagers don’t talk like teenagers! And also I thought it was strange how much Angel talks to herself out loud. Like, I'm the sort of person who has an inner monologue going all the time just about, but I rarely if ever start talking to myself out loud the way she does. The ending was also super rushed and felt like everything was just crammed into the last couple of chapters. One big showdown of misunderstandings and then everyone gets their happy ever after, with no repercussions for any wrongdoings. But it was happy, okay, and I loved this. I couldn’t help it. As unrealistic as it was, it just made my little heart happy because I am a sap.
The Cinderella Moment is a modern fairytale retelling, complete with Cinderella, her evil stepmother and privileged stepsisters (one evil, the other her best friend). The king is absent (he travels a lot) so the evil stepmother has stepped in to take his place. In step the fairy godmother (or grandmother, in this case) to save the day. In this story, we have Angel, the daughter of the de Tourney’s housekeeper. Angel and Lily de Tourney are best friends, though Lily is decidedly more privileged than Angel this has never gotten in the way of their friendship before. Angel is a talented teenage fashion designer and Lily, the granddaughter of a Comtesse (French aristocracy) and aspiring actress, couldn’t care less for the fashion world that Angel dreams to be immersed into. So when the chance arises for Angel to go to Paris to visit the Comtesse (who hasn’t seen Lily since she was five) while Lily is at a summer school at the London Drama Academy. The only thing is Angel must pretend to be Lily. But they’ve got a plan, so what could possibly go wrong?
The Cinderella Moment is light and fluffy and reads like a romantic comedy or chick flick. It is something I could see myself watching while lounging around with my best friend eating lollies and just hanging out. This is exactly the kind of movie we would watch and we would enjoy it and describe it as ‘cute’ or ‘sweet’ as we talked over it while picking out the next movie. But as book, I felt like this just didn’t work as well because it just felt like something that would never happen, especially as the plot gets more and more involved in only 300 pages. Because as well as the Angel/Lily Swap (which reminded me of the Parent Trap), there’s also a more complex reason for Angel going to Paris, the Teen Couture fashion competition and also the theft of Angel’s designs and the sabotage of her own entry. Add to that some convoluted backstory for Lily’s dad and Angel’s mother (who is conveniently ill when all this takes place so henceforth no parental supervision) as well as the typical romance – there is a lot going on here!
In that sense, though, of being unrealistic it did live up to the fairy tale retelling vibe. It felt very fairytale-esque which is probably why I didn’t dislike it, which I easily could have. But the story felt a bit magical so I let myself get swept up in it and read it in a day (to be fair, though, I was procrastinating my study). I loved the friendship between Lily and Angel, although they were apart for most of the novel you could tell how much they cared for each other. The regal Comtesse, Lily’s grandmother, was my favourite character. She was just so ‘don’t mess with me’ and I liked watching her developing relationship with Angel pretending to be Lily. I really enjoyed the emphasis on family and mending bridges. You could tell the Comtesse’s heart was in the right place even if she didn’t always come across that way.
There was, of course, a love interest because this is a fairy tale and we can’t have a fairy tale without a Prince Charming can we? Nick was nice and sweet but the romance happened very quickly and when they were saying ‘I love you’ I was thinking ‘but you just met?’ Instalove. One of my biggest pet peeves. It was kind of dramatic, too, with super cheesy lines. It annoys me when teenagers don’t talk like teenagers! And also I thought it was strange how much Angel talks to herself out loud. Like, I'm the sort of person who has an inner monologue going all the time just about, but I rarely if ever start talking to myself out loud the way she does. The ending was also super rushed and felt like everything was just crammed into the last couple of chapters. One big showdown of misunderstandings and then everyone gets their happy ever after, with no repercussions for any wrongdoings. But it was happy, okay, and I loved this. I couldn’t help it. As unrealistic as it was, it just made my little heart happy because I am a sap.
June 12, 2018
Jenifer Kloester's 2013 novel "The Cinderella moment is a beautiful novel which describes the trials and tribulations of the heroine Angel and her dream to become a fashion designer and to meet the famous Antoine Vidal, her idol. I have never been as captivated by a novel as I was when reading this one! The descriptions of the clothes and fabrics that Angel discovered and made her own were a beautiful insight into why fashion so important to her. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and is prepared for a few twists along the way!
September 19, 2014
Read reviews, see awesome GIFS and see my rambling thoughts at my blog, The Loony Teen Writer
This book made me happy.
I love when this happens – when you don’t have to concentrate too hard on the flaws, because it’s just so darn entertaining. The whole time I was reading this, it felt like the book version of my favourite chick flick. I could imagine everything – the writing was so detailed and descriptions were so well done that the pages flipped by quicker than I could keep track of. And there were flaws – some of the book wasn’t realistic, there were over-dramatic parts, and some of the plot points were a bit TOO convenient.
But I loved it despite all that.
Also, I kept thinking about Barbie in a Fashion Fairytale, because I actually really like Barbie movies and this one was definitely applicable. Angel, the main character, is a teen fashion designer trying to follow her dream.
The parallels to Cinderella were lovely – you’ve got the mean step-mother and step-sister, as well as the Godmother and the running away and the DRESS. Okay, there was more than one. So the incorporation of the original story added another element to a story that’s already so much fun. Basing the whole book around fashion was also a nice touch, because I haven’t read too much on the subject before.
Disclaimer: I have no idea what’s fashionable.
My wardrobe basically consists of jeans, jumpers and T-shirts. But I can be girly occasionally. And the descriptions of all the dresses in this books were SO lovely – I could picture them really easily and I wanted to basically dive into the book so I could wear them. And swish them. Swishing dresses is fun, okay?
On to characters. So Angel is our MC, and she’s lovely. The premise of the book, right, is that she and her friend Lily do an identity swap so that Angel can go to Paris, while Lily can go to the London Drama Academy. So Angel pretends to be the granddaughter of the Comtesse, since Lily hasn’t seen her since she was five or something. Angel’s very sweet and often shy, sometimes naive – but she wants to follow her dream, and I could relate to her so well.
Then we have Lily, who seemed headstrong and vivacious and generally just an awesome friend. She kind of pushes Angel into the whole identity-swap thing, but she’s always there for Angel.
Of course, there’s also Nick, the love interest in this particular book – he’s funny, charming and not too serious, and I think he and Angel’s friendship was really nice.
Finally there’s the Comtesse, Lily’s grandmother, who can be a bit of an ice queen but softens up very quickly. I loved her interactions with Angel about fashion.
Apart from Margot and Clarissa (boooooo), all the characters were really likeable. There was even a side character called Kitty who I really liked – she wasn’t your standard definition of beautiful, but Angel knows enough about fashion that any dress she chooses will transform the wearer into a belle fille.
(see the French? That’s right, everyone. I know ALL the French words)
There’s something I really like about books with rich characters. I have no idea why. I guess I can live vicariously through descriptions of beautiful dresses, food and did I mention the dresses? Plus, there was a really nice family element to this book. I’ll admit some of it was a little cliched, but sometimes that’s okay, you know? And the ending just made me want to squeal with delight.
Basically? You want to read this book. And if, like me, you read it while wearing pyjamas, you’ll probably question your fashion choices.
This is a marvellous, fun read that could easily be a movie. But it’s not just about the pretty dresses – it’s about following your dreams, the importance of family, the importance of love.
And I loved every minute of it.
This book made me happy.
I love when this happens – when you don’t have to concentrate too hard on the flaws, because it’s just so darn entertaining. The whole time I was reading this, it felt like the book version of my favourite chick flick. I could imagine everything – the writing was so detailed and descriptions were so well done that the pages flipped by quicker than I could keep track of. And there were flaws – some of the book wasn’t realistic, there were over-dramatic parts, and some of the plot points were a bit TOO convenient.
But I loved it despite all that.
Also, I kept thinking about Barbie in a Fashion Fairytale, because I actually really like Barbie movies and this one was definitely applicable. Angel, the main character, is a teen fashion designer trying to follow her dream.
The parallels to Cinderella were lovely – you’ve got the mean step-mother and step-sister, as well as the Godmother and the running away and the DRESS. Okay, there was more than one. So the incorporation of the original story added another element to a story that’s already so much fun. Basing the whole book around fashion was also a nice touch, because I haven’t read too much on the subject before.
Disclaimer: I have no idea what’s fashionable.
My wardrobe basically consists of jeans, jumpers and T-shirts. But I can be girly occasionally. And the descriptions of all the dresses in this books were SO lovely – I could picture them really easily and I wanted to basically dive into the book so I could wear them. And swish them. Swishing dresses is fun, okay?
On to characters. So Angel is our MC, and she’s lovely. The premise of the book, right, is that she and her friend Lily do an identity swap so that Angel can go to Paris, while Lily can go to the London Drama Academy. So Angel pretends to be the granddaughter of the Comtesse, since Lily hasn’t seen her since she was five or something. Angel’s very sweet and often shy, sometimes naive – but she wants to follow her dream, and I could relate to her so well.
Then we have Lily, who seemed headstrong and vivacious and generally just an awesome friend. She kind of pushes Angel into the whole identity-swap thing, but she’s always there for Angel.
Of course, there’s also Nick, the love interest in this particular book – he’s funny, charming and not too serious, and I think he and Angel’s friendship was really nice.
Finally there’s the Comtesse, Lily’s grandmother, who can be a bit of an ice queen but softens up very quickly. I loved her interactions with Angel about fashion.
Apart from Margot and Clarissa (boooooo), all the characters were really likeable. There was even a side character called Kitty who I really liked – she wasn’t your standard definition of beautiful, but Angel knows enough about fashion that any dress she chooses will transform the wearer into a belle fille.
(see the French? That’s right, everyone. I know ALL the French words)
There’s something I really like about books with rich characters. I have no idea why. I guess I can live vicariously through descriptions of beautiful dresses, food and did I mention the dresses? Plus, there was a really nice family element to this book. I’ll admit some of it was a little cliched, but sometimes that’s okay, you know? And the ending just made me want to squeal with delight.
Basically? You want to read this book. And if, like me, you read it while wearing pyjamas, you’ll probably question your fashion choices.
This is a marvellous, fun read that could easily be a movie. But it’s not just about the pretty dresses – it’s about following your dreams, the importance of family, the importance of love.
And I loved every minute of it.
February 28, 2014
I discovered a modern version of Cinderella with a new twist. I absolutely loved it! There was nothing, N.O.T.H.I.N.G. that was typical of the original Cinderella in this book. Jennifer Kloester created a beautiful and believable world in her book The Cinderella Moment.
The Cinderella Moment is the story of Angel, she is the daughter of the cook (Simone) and they live in the DeTourney household in New York. They had moved to New York from France when Angel was only 6 because her father needed surgery. This is where Simone took a job working for Phillip de Tourney (he is also from France), Phillip was a widower who was left to raise his daughter Lily by himself; he had cut off all ties to his mother the Comtesse de Tourney. Lily and Angel became best friends.
The story starts out with Angel and Lily as teenagers. Lily loves acting and has applied for the London Drama Academy for a 2 week summer program. Angel is entering her designs in the Teen Couture to be judged by Antoine Vidal. Margot is dating Phillip; she and her teenage daughter Clarissa have been invited to stay at the de Tourney house while Phillip was away on business. Clarissa also wants to win the Teen Couture. She wants to win this so badly that she steals Angel's designs and enters them as her own. Angel must find a way to get her entry in before Clarissa's copycat entry can be turned in.
Margot tells Lily that she is to go to visit her grandmother the Comtesse de Tourney; whom she has not seen since she was five years old. Her father does not talk to his mother. Lily does not want to iss out on the London Drama Academy so she comes up with a plan that will help not only herself but Angel as well. Angel will go to Paris. She will pretend to be Lily de Tourney and swap out her designs for the copycat designs that Clarissa had entered. Meanwhile, Lily would go to London for her 2 week drama academy. After Lily is done with London she will go to France to explain to her grandmother why they had swapped places. Angel reluctantly agrees to this plan.
Angel had not anticipated Nick, the handsome young man who remembers Lily from the last time she was in France 11 years prior. He seems like the kind of boy that she could fall for, she must stay away from him so that he does not find out the truth. The Comtesse de Tourney takes Angel out immediately for new clothes that would be proper for her to wear during the Summer Season, in which Lily (Angel) is to be introduced into Paris society. Will Angel be able to keep up this masquerade? Will she be able to stop Clarissa from using her designs to win the Teen Couture?
This book has so many unexpected twists and turns that you will love it. It stays fresh and captivating the entire way through. Though I am not a fan of fashion I found myself loving the details of the dresses, loving the passion that Angel feels for fashion, a passion that she shares with the Comtesse.
This is a far cry form your typical take on Cinderella, it is a far cry from the modern twists on Cinderella. This story is fresh, new and feels completely new! I highly recommend this book.
July 26, 2013
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle 24th July 2013:
RATING: 4.5 DELIGHTFUL STARS!
'Fortuna favet fortibus,' he repeated.
'It's Latin for "Fortune favours the bold."
This was a rather surprise read for me. I was expecting to kind of know the story I was in for , being a Cinderella moment and all, but, no, Jennifer kept throwing in little curveballs.
Sure there was an evilly annoying step sister-to-be and an evilly annoying step mother-to-be, but there were some lovely curveballs thrown in.
I must say this was an unexpectedly delightful read.
Angel and her mother Simone live with Lily and her father, Philip. Yes, Philip is worth a motsa and yes, the horrid Margot and her daughter Clarissa have wormed their way into Lily’s father’s life, but that is where it stops.
Angel is brilliant at fashion and she wants to enter the Teen Couture, that gets held in Paris every year. One thing leads to another and Lily needs her best friends help in her own pursuit of a career, one her father does not support.
Shenanigans ensue and Angel finds herself pretending to be Lily de Tourney and fool the Comtesse, Lily’s grandmother.
Enter Nick Halliday the dashing young man who thinks he is reacquainting himself with his old friend Lily, who he last saw when she was only five.
I can see Disney would have such fun with this book, and Selena Gomez...I am so not type casting her, but she would be fun in a movie about this book.
But, there are the curveballs that I found very welcoming to this story. I even had a bit of a girlie cry at the end. Once you get near the end, you can start doing the math and you can see where it is going , but I was held ransom to all of that until near the end.
It was a truly fairy tale ending. I would have loved to have given Clarissa and her mother a stinky dead fish slap, they were a piece of work. But, in saying that, I do love a good villain or two, not that they were real villains, more of a case of, ‘what does Philip see in these two?’
All I can say is when one practices to deceive...well...pay the consequences.
A very clean YA read with a definite Cinderella Moment that I really enjoyed. I certainly would have loved to have been in Paris experiencing what Angel experienced.
Kind of a dream for a teenager.
I was in Paris when I was eighteen and it was nice reliving the sightseeing through this book.
* sigh*
This one played out in my head like a movie.
A modern , delightful story about friendship and sticking up for yourself. Throw in a dash of Gangnam style, breath taking fashion, a romantic city and a dream that can come true... you just got to be bold! There is always someone waiting , wanting to take you down and that is what an evil step sister by association is there for.
Michelle
RATING: 4.5 DELIGHTFUL STARS!
'Fortuna favet fortibus,' he repeated.
'It's Latin for "Fortune favours the bold."
This was a rather surprise read for me. I was expecting to kind of know the story I was in for , being a Cinderella moment and all, but, no, Jennifer kept throwing in little curveballs.
Sure there was an evilly annoying step sister-to-be and an evilly annoying step mother-to-be, but there were some lovely curveballs thrown in.
I must say this was an unexpectedly delightful read.
Angel and her mother Simone live with Lily and her father, Philip. Yes, Philip is worth a motsa and yes, the horrid Margot and her daughter Clarissa have wormed their way into Lily’s father’s life, but that is where it stops.
Angel is brilliant at fashion and she wants to enter the Teen Couture, that gets held in Paris every year. One thing leads to another and Lily needs her best friends help in her own pursuit of a career, one her father does not support.
Shenanigans ensue and Angel finds herself pretending to be Lily de Tourney and fool the Comtesse, Lily’s grandmother.
Enter Nick Halliday the dashing young man who thinks he is reacquainting himself with his old friend Lily, who he last saw when she was only five.
I can see Disney would have such fun with this book, and Selena Gomez...I am so not type casting her, but she would be fun in a movie about this book.
But, there are the curveballs that I found very welcoming to this story. I even had a bit of a girlie cry at the end. Once you get near the end, you can start doing the math and you can see where it is going , but I was held ransom to all of that until near the end.
It was a truly fairy tale ending. I would have loved to have given Clarissa and her mother a stinky dead fish slap, they were a piece of work. But, in saying that, I do love a good villain or two, not that they were real villains, more of a case of, ‘what does Philip see in these two?’
All I can say is when one practices to deceive...well...pay the consequences.
A very clean YA read with a definite Cinderella Moment that I really enjoyed. I certainly would have loved to have been in Paris experiencing what Angel experienced.
Kind of a dream for a teenager.
I was in Paris when I was eighteen and it was nice reliving the sightseeing through this book.
* sigh*
This one played out in my head like a movie.
A modern , delightful story about friendship and sticking up for yourself. Throw in a dash of Gangnam style, breath taking fashion, a romantic city and a dream that can come true... you just got to be bold! There is always someone waiting , wanting to take you down and that is what an evil step sister by association is there for.
Michelle
December 21, 2013
Angel’s dream has always been to become a fashion designer. But as the daughter of a housekeeper, it feels like that dream may never come true. When Angel’s best friend, Lily, begs Angel to pretend to be Lily in Paris for two weeks while Lily attends drama school in London, it seems like Angel’s chance may finally have arrived. Lily’s grandmother, the Comtesse de Tourney, is one of Paris' most influential figures, with an invitation to one of the world’s most prestigious fashion events. What if Angel can use this chance to meet the right people, and start living her dream?
It’s a madcap setup that leads to all sorts of mayhem, as Angel quickly discovers that being Lily isn’t just a little white lie. People are going to get hurt – including Angel. But if she doesn’t take this opportunity while she can, will Angel miss her moment forever?
Okay. No summary is going to do justice to the several complicated concurrent story lines fighting for attention in this novel. There’s the Parent-Trap-esque swap. There’s a Teen Couture competition. There’s theft of fashion intellectual property and a bogus entry into said competition. An absent father (Lily’s). A sick mother (Angel’s). An evil almost-stepmother and almost-stepsister. Two or three extremely convoluted back stories. And a boy (of course). Phew.
The Cinderella Moment is pretty engaging, once Lily makes it to London and Angel to Paris. I enjoyed the elements of Angel-as-Lily bonding with her estranged grandmother, Comtesse de Tourney, and the basic people-pretending-to-be-other-people thing is always fun to read about.
The main problem with this story is the sheer amount of plots vying for attention, and how dramatic they all are. This is a movie masquerading as a book. I can see Hilary Duff in the lead role as Angel, out of her depth and trying desperately to clutch hold of all the threads. Unfortunately, I felt the narratives were too theatrical, which made it difficult to engage with the characters, and in turn, made it harder to be invested in their happy endings.
I have to mention the super dramatic end sequence, which involves ball gowns, a fancy evening, unmaskings galore, both the absent father and recuperating mother making their entrances, public humiliation and comeuppances, and many private matters being discussed in the middle of a very public event. Think of the end of any teen movie, where the final reveal always takes place in front of a crowd – usually at a prom.
This chaotic novel has a lot of heart, and so many elements that you’re bound to find it fun even as you try desperately to find something to cling to amidst the dozen story lines vying for your attention. If you’re after a light, fashion-centric, fast read, The Cinderella Moment might have something for you.
It’s a madcap setup that leads to all sorts of mayhem, as Angel quickly discovers that being Lily isn’t just a little white lie. People are going to get hurt – including Angel. But if she doesn’t take this opportunity while she can, will Angel miss her moment forever?
Okay. No summary is going to do justice to the several complicated concurrent story lines fighting for attention in this novel. There’s the Parent-Trap-esque swap. There’s a Teen Couture competition. There’s theft of fashion intellectual property and a bogus entry into said competition. An absent father (Lily’s). A sick mother (Angel’s). An evil almost-stepmother and almost-stepsister. Two or three extremely convoluted back stories. And a boy (of course). Phew.
The Cinderella Moment is pretty engaging, once Lily makes it to London and Angel to Paris. I enjoyed the elements of Angel-as-Lily bonding with her estranged grandmother, Comtesse de Tourney, and the basic people-pretending-to-be-other-people thing is always fun to read about.
The main problem with this story is the sheer amount of plots vying for attention, and how dramatic they all are. This is a movie masquerading as a book. I can see Hilary Duff in the lead role as Angel, out of her depth and trying desperately to clutch hold of all the threads. Unfortunately, I felt the narratives were too theatrical, which made it difficult to engage with the characters, and in turn, made it harder to be invested in their happy endings.
I have to mention the super dramatic end sequence, which involves ball gowns, a fancy evening, unmaskings galore, both the absent father and recuperating mother making their entrances, public humiliation and comeuppances, and many private matters being discussed in the middle of a very public event. Think of the end of any teen movie, where the final reveal always takes place in front of a crowd – usually at a prom.
This chaotic novel has a lot of heart, and so many elements that you’re bound to find it fun even as you try desperately to find something to cling to amidst the dozen story lines vying for your attention. If you’re after a light, fashion-centric, fast read, The Cinderella Moment might have something for you.
February 8, 2015
This review first appeared on Readers in Wonderland
It seems like ages ago that I entered a competition to win a signed copy of THE CINDERELLA MOMENT on a whim. I was interested in reading it, but not desperate for it because reading the summary it made me feel like it was a book I’d feel meh about. There was the chance that it could be amazing and become a nice, light book I’d reread and reread for fun, but after reading it I can say my first impression was correct.
THE CINDERELLA MOMENT reminds me of those romance chick flick teenage movies I don’t usually watch. A pauper to princess, let’s swap places with my rich best friend story. All these stories seem to have similar plot points and dilemmas, most kind of unbelievable. Every now and then the main character, Angel, would make a decision completely opposite to what you’d expect but 90% of the time you could tell where the story was going. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it’s nice to read a light fluffy book like that and still enjoy it. The problem was I have no interest in fashion or anything.
I was mainly hanging out for the romance in this. Yes, I read a lot of fantasy and adventure books because I like fights and big conflicts, but a little romance-centric story is nice every now and then. Unfortunately, I didn’t love the romance in THE CINDERELLA MOMENT enough. It was so sappy at times and sappy is the one thing I cannot read unless I ship the characters ridiculously hard (in which case I will flail at anything they say to each other). Most of my dislike of this sappiness boils down to the fact that the characters had barely known each other for two weeks and were exchanging “I love you”. If they’d seen each other every day and really learnt a lot about each other, maybe then it wouldn’t be as annoying to me. Now let me say it wasn’t instalove however, it was just a romance that developed too quickly for my tastes. And Nick, the love interest, was actually a pretty good character so that was a big plus.
Despite being a typical chick flick type romance novel, I still found THE CINDERELLA MOMENT fairly enjoyable. It was a bit hard for me to invest myself in the plot as I have no interest in fashion or anything. There were also some generic characters and very predictable plot points. The main thing I wanted to enjoy in THE CINDERELLA MOMENT was the romance. While not being instalove, it did develop too quickly for my tastes which sucked because it had the potential to be really good.
It seems like ages ago that I entered a competition to win a signed copy of THE CINDERELLA MOMENT on a whim. I was interested in reading it, but not desperate for it because reading the summary it made me feel like it was a book I’d feel meh about. There was the chance that it could be amazing and become a nice, light book I’d reread and reread for fun, but after reading it I can say my first impression was correct.
THE CINDERELLA MOMENT reminds me of those romance chick flick teenage movies I don’t usually watch. A pauper to princess, let’s swap places with my rich best friend story. All these stories seem to have similar plot points and dilemmas, most kind of unbelievable. Every now and then the main character, Angel, would make a decision completely opposite to what you’d expect but 90% of the time you could tell where the story was going. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it’s nice to read a light fluffy book like that and still enjoy it. The problem was I have no interest in fashion or anything.
I was mainly hanging out for the romance in this. Yes, I read a lot of fantasy and adventure books because I like fights and big conflicts, but a little romance-centric story is nice every now and then. Unfortunately, I didn’t love the romance in THE CINDERELLA MOMENT enough. It was so sappy at times and sappy is the one thing I cannot read unless I ship the characters ridiculously hard (in which case I will flail at anything they say to each other). Most of my dislike of this sappiness boils down to the fact that the characters had barely known each other for two weeks and were exchanging “I love you”. If they’d seen each other every day and really learnt a lot about each other, maybe then it wouldn’t be as annoying to me. Now let me say it wasn’t instalove however, it was just a romance that developed too quickly for my tastes. And Nick, the love interest, was actually a pretty good character so that was a big plus.
Despite being a typical chick flick type romance novel, I still found THE CINDERELLA MOMENT fairly enjoyable. It was a bit hard for me to invest myself in the plot as I have no interest in fashion or anything. There were also some generic characters and very predictable plot points. The main thing I wanted to enjoy in THE CINDERELLA MOMENT was the romance. While not being instalove, it did develop too quickly for my tastes which sucked because it had the potential to be really good.
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