Books like The Wide-Awake Princess

A delightfully fractured fairy tale that champions practicality and pluck over magical perfection. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with The Wide-Awake Princess.

whimsical
cheerful
breezy

01
The Bravest Princess
E. D. Baker
A clever, warm-hearted romp that turns classic fairy tale tropes upside down with a healthy dose of practical common sense.
Shares:
- whimsical
- cheerful
- humorous
- earnest
02
Unlocking the Spell
E. D. Baker
A delightfully practical romp through a fractured fairy-tale world where common sense is the greatest magic of all.
Shares:
- whimsical
- cheerful
- breezy
- humorous
03
Beauty sleep
Cameron Dokey · 2002
A warm, spirited reimagining of a classic fairy tale where a cursed princess takes her destiny into her own hands.
Shares:
- whimsical
- earnest
04
Sleeping Beauty
Judith Ivory
A tender historical romance about a guarded beauty and the charming explorer determined to awaken her heart.
Shares:
- earnest
05
The Healer's Apprentice (Hagenheim #1)
Melanie Dickerson
A sweet, wholesome reimagining of a classic fairy tale where duty, faith, and forbidden love collide in a cozy medieval castle.
Shares:
- earnest
06
Spindle's End
Robin McKinley
A lush, winding journey through a fairy tale where the magic of talking animals and village life is just as important as breaking the curse.
Shares:
- whimsical
- earnest
07
The Ordinary Princess
Mary Margaret Kaye · 1984
A cozy, gently subversive fairy tale that celebrates the quiet magic of being perfectly unremarkable.
Shares:
- cheerful
08
Tuesdays at the Castle
Jessica Day George
A whimsical, spirited adventure where the setting itself is a living, breathing character full of secrets.
Shares:
- earnest
- sibling loyalty
09
Sleeping Ugly
Jane Yolen
A playful, fractured fairy tale that turns classic magical tropes upside down for a surprising and humorous read.
Shares:
- whimsical
- humorous
- subverting expectations
10
Princess of the Midnight Ball
Jessica Day George · 2009
A cozy, enchanting fairy tale retelling where quiet bravery and practical magic unravel a dark, shadowy curse.
Shares:
- earnest
11
Wildwood Dancing
Juliet Marillier
A lush, wintry fairy tale that weaves the fierce bonds of sisterhood with the intoxicating, dangerous allure of a hidden magical realm.
Shares:
- earnest
12
Enchanted
Alethea Kontis
A whimsical, cozy fairy tale mashup that feels like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket of magic, witty banter, and unexpected romance.
Shares:
- whimsical
- humorous
- earnest

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