This book pops up on favorite lists. Whose? Librarians, authors, literary agents... lots of folks, so I chose to read it to my daughter. 
 The other reviews will tell you all about how it is a rewrite of Cinderella, though that's not so obvious at first. It becomes obvious in good ways somewhere in the middle, less good for me near the very end, because I am flawed enough to... (view spoiler)[ ...desire revenge - that step-sister! - (hide spoiler)]. 
 A feminist critique of fairy tales lies within and adds to the story, but remains a whiff, not a gale. Ella, the main character, is burdened by a curse that was meant as a gift. It partly explains the horrid servitude that befalls her. The story unfolds after her mother's death and veers from the exact particulars of the fairy tale, don't worry. I enjoyed events and characters, including Ella's father the jerk, and even her budding romance with the prince, but maybe I should have read this when I was a 12 year old girl, as another reviewer felt. Maybe I should have saved this for my daughter so she could have read it when 12. At this time, she prefers realistic fiction, which is fine, and this did not sway her. 
 By the way, Ella, the character, has great strengths and weaknesses. I don't blame the prince for being interested.