Published: April 2020
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy / Fairy Tale Retelling / Disney Twisted Tale
Audience: Grades 7–10 (Middle School & Early High School)
Number of Stars: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Goodreads Link: So This is Love
Themes: Class Division, Institutional Labor, Political Conspiracies, Female Agency, Reclaiming Identity.
Review by: Sara Tripp
Publisher’s Summary
What if Cinderella never tried on the glass slipper?
Unable to prove that she’s the missing princess, and unable to bear life under Lady Tremaine any longer, Cinderella starts work at the palace as a seamstress. However, when Cinderella finds herself witness to a grand conspiracy to take the king—and the prince—out of power, she is faced with questions of love and loyalty to the kingdom. Cinderella must find a way to stop the villains of past and present… before it’s too late.
Review
This is the third Disney Twisted Tale installment that I have read so far. What I absolutely love about this entire series is that with each new book I pick up, the reimagined narrative does not alter the foundational essence of the classic story too drastically. Instead, the authors beautifully add to the original lore, offer a completely fresh perspective, or introduce a rich new layer of character depth.
This specific story follows the same beloved backbone of Cinderella, but with a massive structural shift: this time, she is completely unable to prove her identity with the glass slipper, forcing her to find her own independent way into the royal castle.
Stripped of her magical resolution, Cinderella must be incredibly brave, autonomous, and resilient. As she navigates her new life working behind the scenes as a palace servant, she consistently sticks up for others and protects those around her. Ultimately, Cinderella does not merely save herself from her abusive stepfamily; she actively uses her position to save the marginalized people who didn’t possess a voice in the wider kingdom. It is an empowering, five-star must-read!
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- English Language Arts & Literature (Analyzing Agency in Retellings):
- Activity Idea: “The Agency Audit.” Have students create a T-chart comparing the actions of the traditional Disney Cinderella with Elizabeth Lim’s protagonist. Focus on specific plot points—such as escaping Lady Tremaine’s house without magic or reporting the palace coup. Discuss how modern authors repurpose passive folklore heroines into active agents of change to reflect contemporary values of female independence.
- Social Studies & Economics (The Invisible Class Architecture of Castles):
- Activity Idea: “The Servant Economy.” Use Cinderella’s role as a seamstress to explore the historical social structure of royal courts (such as Versailles or Tudor palaces). Have students research the daily lives, living conditions, and economic reality of court artisans, tailors, and domestic laborers, writing a short creative journal entry from the perspective of an invisible worker navigating a highly stratified society.
