Book: The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Written By: Deya Muniz

Reviewer: Erick Galvan

Rating: 5/5

Have you ever had to choose between two terrible options, knowing neither would be easy? The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a YA LGBTQ+ romantic and comedic graphic novel that follows the story of bold, activist-minded Lady Camembert who, after her father’s passing, disguises herself as a man and moves to the capital, The Kingdom of Fromage to get around the inheritance restrictions placed on women by the law of the land. With confidante and caretaker Feta, she tries to lay low and not bring any attention to herself–until the princess of the kingdom catches her eye, that is. The story explores themes of true love, activism, and coming out. I couldn’t help but appreciate the bright, colorful illustrations and explore the fantastical fairytale setting throughout the book. I liked how each scene felt like it was backed by love and passion. Additionally, the characters are relatable and full of personality. Besides the romance between Lady Camembert and Princess Brie, the relationship that Cam has with Feta got a good chuckle out of me as Cam continued to put herself in the eye of the public much to Feta’s dismay. Throughout the novel, I became further invested in the story and characters. Notably, the pacing was, in my opinion, rather natural and purposeful. It felt like I could flow through and enjoy immersing myself in the book, unlike others that had failed to grasp my attention as a reader. It’s quite rare that I’ll call a book a “real page-turner” but with The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich, I had the book my heart desired. Whether it’s the not-so-subliminal grilled cheese messaging, lovable characters, or an expertly written ode to rom-coms, this book has it all—and if that sounds as appealing to you as it did to me, then this is the book for you!