Geekerella: A Fangirl Fairy Tale (Once Upon A Con)

One of my favorite books of 2017, Geekerella is something truly special. The story of Elle, who works in the Magic Pumpkin food truck, Geekerella is my first ever fangirl book - now I love fangirl books! Ashley Poston totally schooled me in the art of fandom, an art I've been curious about and didn't quite understand - I was born in the '80s!

Now, since I know what fangirling really is, I realize that I've been a fangirl all my life, of SO many different things. Because of my own intense fangirling throughout my longish-seeming life, I'm so proud that there are actually books regarding the subject.

Elle's fangirl focus is Starfield, a sci-fi series she adored watching with her now deceased father. From Geekerella, I learned what in the hell cosplay is - I had an idea, but I really did not get it - and I finally got to go, through Elle, to an amazing fandom convention - ExcelsiCon. Ever since I figured out what ComicCon is, I've wanted to attend a nerdy convention!

I love how Poston weaves the classic Cinderella saga into Elle's tale; it's a subtle weave, but it's there. Aside from Elle working in the deliciously described Magic Pumpkin food truck, this book feels like a Cinderella retelling, but is a story all its own. The modernization of Cinderella is so much fun to read in the present.

In comes Darien, Elle's Prince Charming, an actor who will be promoting his part in Elle's top fandom - the Starfield movie. I love that Geekerella is out of this world, as in, could so never happen in real life, but makes me believe at the same time. Anyhow, Darien is an ultimate fanboy, hot or not!

Of course, because it is a Cinderella-based story, a set of stepsisters enjoys making Elle's life miserable. I, personally, love mean girl characters, so Chloe and Calliope almost make the whole book for me. Like I said earlier, I honestly had no clue exactly what cosplay is - now, I know! Even the twins - the stepsisters - get in on it!

With a perfect Cinderella ending, Geekerella is a tale all its own; the tale of a nerdy girlie who finds a connection and busts loose on the world. The tale of a girl lacking everyday charisma, but possessing much charm, Geekerella is a total must-read for fangirls and fairy tale fans alike.

This is one of the most adorable retellings of sorts I've read all year!
Geekerella is one great book. If you love books that create a unique story that holds true to the beloved fairytale it's based loosely on, this one is just that. It's so dang cute! It deals with the usual underlying themes in this particular tale basis such as the stepmother, stepsisters... well, there are many things yet many aren't as easy to type here without ruining the fun of the story. A good part of it is reading how the author wove the tale together. It's so good.
The characters are just perfect. They are written so very well that you like who you are supposed to and really dislike those you are supposed to. Each one seems to truly be a living being. I really don't want to give anything away. Between the fairytale it's based on and the synopsis on the back of the book I think you have enough information about the actual story itself that if you knew too much more you'd be hitting spoiler territory. I don't want to do that to anyone!
The book isn't a very long one and it reads so smoothly and quickly it won't take all that long to get through and when you're done you'll likely want just a little bit more. I listened to the audio (brilliant in it's own right) and also read the book and both ways are equally terrific. I would recommend this to any retellings fans an any self proclaimed "geeks" out there. It's a book for everybody!

Rating: 5 Stars

Geekerella is a the story of Elle and Darien. Elle is a huge geek/fangirl for her beloved Starfield which was something her parents loved, to the point of creating a con, ExcelsiCon which holds a coseplay contest for it. Now the odd man out living with her step mother and her twin girls and treated like the help and working at the vegan pumpkin food truck she is beyond excited for the revamp and interest her favorite show is getting with the new movie coming up. Only down side…Darien Freeman, teen heart throb and not who a fan wants playing the lead role of Carmindor. Darien is thrilled for this role as his favorite character on a show he loved. Before becoming the teen heart throb he lived for conventions and getting to see all the splendor they hold, now he’s on the other side of the table. But to keep his image he has to keep his geek status hidden, making him feel more like a fake than ever before until a wrong number turns into something more.

This book is FILLED with fun references and Easter eggs from different fandoms. I constantly found myself laughing at finding them. The characters were fresh and fun. I loved Elle and her story. Her history with her father. I felt for everything she has been and goes through. She is someone you root for and instantly understand. I wanted her to win at so many things in life and things to go well for her. I wanted her as our Cinderella to have her dreams come true. Then you add in Darien who is sweet and likeable being separated from life in a different way with people planning and marketing everything you do. While I couldn’t relate to it personally, so few can, I felt for him. I could see how your path in life could isolate you and how being anonymous could be the best release.

I also adore the idea of making a friend by accident of a wrong number. It’s so random and fun. As many of us make friends over the internet via blogs, forums, etc. it’s easy to see how you could start connecting with someone you’ve never seen before and just get along with them. That is normal but the pure act of coincidence that you would get a wrong number and connect with them is special. Plus there is something to be said for the joy of having someone like you for only your wit and conversation having no idea what you look like.

Overall the story has lots of cute moments, great characters, and life lessons all in a modern day retelling. Yep this is a retelling and I love it. It has elements but for most of the book I did forget that part. This book flew by and the audiobook format was fantastic (score Audible daily deals) but the book itself has such pretty end pages full of fangirl stuff. Among all the fan nods in the book I lost track but they will instantly bring a smile to any fans face when they find them peppered in the story. I highly recommend this to any reader because you can enjoy it on every level!

This may be my favorite Cinderella retelling so far. It's quite fun. Elle is a geek girl living with her definitely non-geek step mother and step sisters. She used to be able to nerd out with her dad over their favorite TV show -- Starfield. Her Dad even started the con ExcelsiCon.

But when Starfield is turned into a movie with the handsome but problematic Darien Freeman as the lead, Elle is anything but happy, and she takes to her blog to rant about it. Meanwhile, Darien struggles with his controlling father, and being a nerd but being forced to act like a bro to keep up his persona.

What I loved about this is that the two develop a relationship over time, and it's not a love at first sight thing. I also love the con and cosplay aspect, being a geek girl myself. I needed this book as a teenager. Sage, Elle's friend and coworker, is amazing. I wish Elle had been more active as a protagonist, but then, I recognize her anxiety.

Overall, highly recommend for geek girls, ya readers, and fairytale fans.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quirk Books for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cinderella, with a side dish of The Shop Around the Corner/She Loves Me/You've Got Mail (depending on your generation and movie viewing habits.)

Plus the joy of science fiction fandom and geek culture.

Elle Wittimer isn't just a dedicated fan of cult sci-fi show Starfield; she's also the daughter of two big name fans. Her mom and dad met at a convention, and her father was one of the founders of what's now one of the biggest conventions, Excelsicon. But her mother died, and her father remarried, giving her a stepmother and two stepsisters. Then her father died, too.

And her stepmother turns her into basically a drudge in the household. She's doing all the chores, and to keep alive the dream of an independent future, she works in a food truck, with the daughter of the food truck's owner, a green-haired girl called Sage.

Then one day she finds her parents' costumes in the attic.

The latest Excelsicon is a few weeks away.

And recently she's been texting with what was originally a wrong number, someone trying to reach her deceased father. She's going to get to the convention, and win the cosplay contest.

That's Elle's story.

Darien's story is that he's the teen soap opera star who's been cast as the new Prince Carmindor in the movie reboot of the cult tv series. He doesn't know who Elle is; Elle doesn't know who the guy she's nicknamed Carmindor really is.

If they did know, it would be a little awkward for them that Elle is also the Rebel Gunner blogger who has blogged eloquently about her anger at the fact that some dumb soap opera star has been cast as the heroic Prince Carmindor.

Little does she know that Darien, too, is a true Starfield fan.

As they get closer and closer by text, their separate lives spin further and further out of control.

It's a lot of fun, filled with an understanding and love of fan culture.

Recommended.

I bought this audiobook.

Geekerella follows a teenage girl named Elle who’s a big fan of this show called Starfield. Because this story has a geeky twist to Cinderella there’s the wicked stepmother and stepsisters. Who just make her life impossible. Elle works at a vegan food truck called The Pumpkin. (Isn’t that just an amazing cute twist. That was seriously one of the best parts I tread in the book.) She soon finds out that there would be a Starfield cosplay contest at a Con and she just has to enter. She does everything in her power to try and get to the con and win this contest. We also follow a famous actor named Darien Freeman who just got the top gig to be Carmindor in Starfield. Which is something he has always wanted. Unfortunately, everyone thinks he’s not fit for the part and doesn’t know anything about what Starfield really is.

So, let’s get to the fangirling over this book!!! I picked up this book last year at Comic-Con because I’ve heard amazing things and they also had a signed copy! Which now I know I did the right thing because I seriously love this book. I picked it up a few days ago and read a few pages. But I got to work today and it’s 3am and I’m writing a review. \m/ what can you do?

I loved everything about this book, the geeky twist and the fangirling. I loved both characters and what they both provided for this book. Elle was such a strong character and it really touched me every time she had to deal with her stepshits bs. I literally got emotional in some parts. I really loved Darien’s character too, he always reminded himself of who he truly was. I felt like I could actually connect with both characters. Especially because just like them I’m a huge geek too.

I enjoyed this love letter to geeks and I’d love to read more from Ashley Poston. Definitely recommend if you’re into cheesy fairytale retellings.

Geekerella in a nutshell is a love letter to fans, fandoms and nerd culture all over the world. If Fandoms & Fairytales got married and had a baby, that adorable child would be Geekerella.

The Things I Loved About This Book

1. I have to admit that I loved the concept to begin with. I was extremely interested in finding out how the author had managed to mix fairy tales and fandoms, and I must say that she has done a pretty good job.
2. In-fact this book is nerd heaven. If you have ever been a true fan of a book/show, and have been actively involved in a fandom, you will eat this up. It made me nostalgic about the days I used to geek out about Harry Potter with my real and virtual friends. Plus the narration ensured that I literally flew through this one.
3. And though this book is troupe heavy, it has some troupes that I quite enjoy. For instance, I am a sucker for the You’ve Got Mail kinda plots, where the protagonists aren’t aware of whom they are communicating with, though they are either aware of the existence of that person, or know that person in real life.
4. There is also amazing lesbian representation in this book. It is treated, as it should be treated, like normal.

The Not-So-Great Things

1. The writing is kinda juvenile. It did not bother me as much because I heard it on audio, but it might bother people who care about this, and read this in print.
2. It stuck too close to the source material Cinderella, so much so that the step mum and sisters came across as caricatures rather than real people.
3. The male lead, as adorable as he is, is not realistic. I don’t always fret over such things, but this guy, he had the looks of a Greek God and the money and fame to go with it, and yet I must have a bigger ego than him! Also, his abs were insured! Yes, you can read that line again. But I don’t know how that even works, so don’t ask me.
4. There were some loose ends that needed to be tied up, which the author just ignored.

But you know how some books make you want to turn a blind eye to all the negatives, and less-than-perfect things about them, and just bask in their amazingness (and create non-existent words like amazingness)? Geekerella was that book for me. And it might not be for you, but for me, it was.

However, I feel like if you have ever been a true fan of any book/series, and have been an active part of a fandom, you will love this book, just as much as I did.

You will overlook the troupes and the loose ends, and enjoy this tribute to fans, geeks, and nerds all over the world.

-Shantala (Book Blogger @ Shanaya Tales Dot Com)

When you engage in a retelling there is an understanding that it's going to follow a similar plot. Poston does a great job making her characters really and intriguing. What could have easily fallen flat was emotional and fun! The known plot point were fun and exciting as you realize they are coming up- because you care. The added elements make this story it's own. Some of the scenes about the con and other characters are the most touching. I liked the fact that we got two POVs in this story as well- rang a bit like a Cinderella story with Hilary duff in that aspect.
Audio book Performance: I really liked the actors! Eileen nailed the talking while crying voice it even got me a bit choked up! There were some editing errors in Darien's stuff where there were random phrases or a few words repeated - did bother me much but I did notice. I'm curious if Jessica stones character would read quite as negatively if I had just read the book rather than listened to it. Tristan's seductive, condescending drawl didn't always seem to fit what the character was saying - it felt spot on for the first couple scenes with her and I also appreciate him giving her a distinctive voice- so tbd

Overall I really nice comforting listen. A good reliable story packed to the brim with fandom and cultural references that if you're a fan of anything will make you feel like you're coming home!

Ashley Poston’s Geekerella is at its core an ode to fandom culture and all things deemed nerdy. If you’ve ever seen any kind of modern adaption of Cinderella, you’ll be familiar with the bones of this one. Elle Wittimer is treated unfairly by her stepmother and stepsisters, who have always regarded her as more than a little weird because of her obsession with the cult science–fiction television show Starfield. For Elle, her connection to Starfield and its characters have a lot to do with the times she spent with her father geeking out over the show. In a way, being a part of the Starfield fandom helps her to feel wholly herself and gives her blog gives her an outlet to express who she is. When she comes across an old Starfield relic of her father’s, she takes it as a sign that maybe she can finally do something for herself. In these types of stories, I’m used to reader’s perspectives being limited to one protagonist, but Geekerella features a dual perspective and so we get more than just a glimpse at who our prince charming is. Darien Freeman has just landed the biggest role of his career, stepping into the shoes of Federation Prince Carmindor as a Starfield is set for a movie reboot. Die-hard fans are immediately skeptical, including one particularly harsh blogger, but Darien is determined to be the best Carmindor he can be. While Elle’s character arc revolves around her learning to take a step of faith and finally gaining control of her own life, Darien grapples with fame being a double-edged sword. Feeling trapped most of the time, Darien is always playing a part. If it isn’t the paparazzi keeping a close eye on him, then it’s his father who is much better at playing the part of manager than being a supportive parental figure for his son. Geekerella is a quick read that encourages every nerd out there to embrace who they are in a world that may not always understand their enthusiasm while also having fun a familiar fairy tale trope.

Book Review by As the Book Ends

Hello fellow YA readers! I’ve finally pulled myself out of Regency England (after reading at least 25 books and trying to speak with a British accent, I realized it was time). I have to say, Geekerella brought me back to my YA roots with style.

Can someone please Geek-my-lovelife? Seriously, this book couldn’t have been more adorable. Darien and Elle had me grinning like a fool from their first text message – by the end of the novel, my cheeks ached from smiling.

Now, as someone who loves both movies and books, I was nervous that this book would turn out a little bit like A Cinderella Story (you know the one – adorable, if a bit cheesy movie featuring Chad Michael Murray). The parallels are easy to draw – modern Cinderella retelling, characters communicate via text without knowing who the other is, you see where I am going. I’m thrilled to report, having re-watched A Cinderella Story (for research purposes…of course) that they are absolutely nothing alike. Geekerella is about a million times better, and much less cheesy.

Elle and Darien are too cute for words, but what I think I liked the most about this book was that it didn’t focus wholly on their coming together. Sure, that was a major part of the plot, but most of the book was passed with the two of them apart. Both characters grew over the course of the novel, separately, and came together at the end stronger than ever. Parents of YA readers highly recommend this book for teenagers. It has an incredible positive message, one that I think a lot of teenagers in this day and age just need to hear.

The nerd culture in Geekerella is on point. Firefly, Star Trek, and Star Wars references just made my heart happy. However, I have one small complaint to file with Ashley Poston – WHY CAN I NOT WATCH STARFIELD?? I need to see it! I’m freaking hooked on the show solely through book descriptions.

The only, very minor, issue I had with Geekerella was its sort of abrupt ending. Perhaps I’m just being greedy, but I would have loved to see more of Darien and Elle’s future. Maybe this can be more than a standalone? I hope so!

My Takeaway: If you’re looking for a light, fun and heartwarming YA Romance, search no more. Geekerella absolutely charmed me and improved my mood every time I cracked it open. It might just be my favorite feel-good book of the year so far.

“Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.” - Starfield
A Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff has long been a guilty pleasure of mine. Sometimes when I'm down I pop it in and it puts a smile on my face. After all it's got cheesy writing for a retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales and Hilary Duff. (Yes, I am from that generation.) If A Cinderella Story is a guilty pleasure for you I think Geekerella is definitely up your alley, especially if you just so happen to be a fangirl! Nerd! Geek! Whatever you embrace to call your sci-fi-fantasy-fan of franchises type self. Whether your a Lord of the Rings fan, anime, or so on there's a bit of everything here.

Geekerella might be yet another modern Cinderella retelling, but in reality is a nod to fans. You don't even have to be a geek/nerd to get it. If you've got some kind of obsession you'll get it. Though some of the geeky inside jokes may go over your head. Geekerella evolves around the fandom of Starfield a fictional (well yeah) space TV show that is getting rebooted. It's amazing how Ashley Poston perfectly sums up being a fan of these shows/franchises. Fans know it's all fake, but there's deeper meanings behind why we love what we love and how fans connect with them. Also taking a look at both the awesome and creepy parts of fans.

Girl power and the horrible “you're a female you can't be a fan” are both examined. Not to mention how maybe you're not lonely because of the horrible people around you, but because you're putting yourself in the corner. (Sorry I rewatched the ORIGINAL Dirty Dancing.) You have to want to reach out to others to be able to interact. Attitude. I've always been a cynic about falling in love with someone over texting. I think maybe some texting happens off page that I missed, because I think A Cinderella Story made it more believable for me. However, I did eventually fall into Darien and Elle making it work.

The real power of Geekerella is it's characters. Especially how it highlights the different stages of grief and loss, loneliness, friendship, and looking past masks/stereotypes. It truly surprised me how much I enjoyed Geekerella. Sage is one of the best side characters ever. I adored her! Not to mention that Poston didn't make her feel like the token lesbian character, she just was herself and it felt organic. As I read Geekerella I highlighted the crap out of it! So many quotes that I loved. Just look at my updates. This is not award winning writing and the snob in me hates when character's appearances are a mash up of movie/famous people. However, it works for this story. It's the style. At times silly and others powerful. I'm a fangirl of Starfield now. I want a T-shirt with “Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.” on it! I look forward to future works from Poston.

Sexual Content: Lesbians, nothing over the top. (It's really sweet.) Some kissing and gushing, but really a pretty clean read. Mild sexual humor jokes and making out by random cosplay characters.

4/5 - A true obsession!

Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.

I checked out this book from the local library to read as a #buddyread with @mycornerforbooksand and #totalcoverlover readathon. ☄Geekerella by Ashley Poston. ???? Elle lives in the "Cinderella role" in her home life. All the chores, all the errands are hers while her twin stepsisters and her stepmother live off of Elle's late father's money. Things couldn't be worse for her until soon she finds out, it can be.......Darien is a typical teen movie star boy that lives in his own ego and his own world where fans swoon and either hate him or love him. He strives for normal but it doesn't exist. Until Excelicon where the two of them will meet and something bigger than ego puts them both in the same place at the same time but they only have until midnight when Elle' s curfew ends and then their world may splinter apart forever. I had really high expectations for this book. I wanted a true FANGIRL book to relate to. I was not disappointed. The cute references made in this book make it comicon on romance for every fangirl out there.

The story of Cinderella has been told and retold so many times that almost everyone is familiar with it by now. Books with their own retellings of this story have done just about everything possible with it -- set it during another period of history or in another country/culture, replacing the cast with animals or mythical creatures, telling the story from the perspective of the fairy godmother or the wicked stepmother/stepsister, or just trying to delve deeper into the psyches of the cinder girl and her Prince Charming. I thought the story had been done to death... so imagine my surprise when I came across "Geekerella," a Cinderella retelling after my own heart. After all, as a self-professed "girl geek," I could probably identify with this modern-day Cinderella and her efforts to make it to the costume ball, right?

It turns out "Geekerella" is more than just another dry Cinderella retelling -- it not only gives the traditional tale a nerdy twist, it gives us likable and relatable characters, a sweet and funny love story, and a loving tribute to nerd culture.

Danielle, better known as Elle, is the misfit of her family, ridiculed by her country-club stepmother and her snobby stepsisters. Her only solace is in enjoying reruns of "Starfield," the sci-fi show her father got her hooked on before his death. She sees her escape in ExcelsiorCon, a sci-fi convention, and in its cosplay contest with a fantastic prize for the winner... but she's going to need luck, gumption, and the help of her feisty co-worker from the Magic Pumpkin food truck to succeed. Meanwhile, teen actor Darien Freeman has won the gig of his life -- playing the hero of the film adaptation of "Starfield" -- but his father/agent seems determined to make his life miserable, and he's not sure he can stand his raving fangirls or his grouchy co-stars. And he is not looking forward to making an appearance at ExcelsiorCon... but a wrong number leads to him striking up a friendship via text, and little does he realize that serving as a judge at the cosplay contest could change his life forever...

This book is loaded with references to nerd culture -- fan fiction, fan blogs, fan reactions to big announcements regarding their chosen obsession, conventions, cosplay, etc. -- but rather than feeling like the author is pandering to her audience, they feel like a loving homage. Poston knows what she's talking about, and her geeky references and character traits don't feel forced at all but completely natural. In a world that rarely portrays geeky folks in a flattering or realistic light (see "Big Bang Theory"), this is a refreshing treat.

The story itself mostly hews to the familiar "Cinderella" format, even if it feels like it borrows from the film "Ever After" at some points (the heroine being named Danielle, one of the stepsisters being more sympathetic than the other, the rebellious "Prince Charming," etc.). But it's not afraid to step outside the formula where needed. It was quite nice to have Elle and Darien establish a relationship prior to their first meeting, letting their relationship develop instead of foisting a "love at first sight" scenario on them. Also, there are a couple of side plots, such as a mole on the set of the "Starfield" movie and the threat of Elle's house being sold out from under her, but these plots don't clutter up the story. Rather, they compliment it, adding new layers to story and characters.

And for those hoping for a little diversity in your fiction -- this book does have people of color and LGBTs among its cast. The book never makes a big deal about Darien being of color, though, just mentions that "it's so nice they didn't whitewash the character" and leaves it at that. And while the LGBT characters aren't main characters, the book doesn't shame or trivialize them. Well, a couple characters do, but it's already been established that those characters are jerks...

A refreshing retelling of a timeless tale, and a wonderful tribute to fans and geeks of all stripes. "Geekerella" is a great teen read, especially for teens who might have a little nerdier interests than most. Poston has given us a fantastic teen novel, and I'm eager to read more by her.

“We’re all geeks here.”

Before I start, I should say that I’m a little wary going into fandom novels. I have this irrational fear that the protagonist is only a fangirl or a fanboy as a quirky side story and that it’s not at all given enough importance.

And yet, after about ten minutes of reading Geekerella, I knew I was didn't need to be wary of ANYTHING.

Danielle – Elle – lives with her horrible stepmother (*ahem stepmonster*) and her two equally horrible stepsisters. Her mom died at a young age, and her father in an accident a while later. In a home that used to be hers and her father’s, she feel like an outsider. She’s made to do the chores and the cleaning and she also has a job – she’s a modern day Cinderella, only without a Prince Charming.

Until she gets a call from a strange number, for what used to be her dad’s number for the Convention he used to organise, and a conversation sparks with a boy she’s never met and knows nothing about. A boy she’s also spewing hate about on the Internet for his new role in her favourite show’s reboot.

And her geeky fairy tale is just about to begin.

“All me had was a moment. Just a moment in an impossible universe waltzing that beautiful, impossible waltz.”

I LOVED ALL THE GEEKY AND ADORABLE THINGS ABOUT THIS BOOK.

Told from the dual perspectives of Elle (Cinderella) and Darien (Prince Charming), Geekerella is EVERYTHING a fairy tale retelling with a fangirl twist should be.

Let me list it all out:

1) THERE ARE ALL THE FANDOM REFERENCES AND PUNS AND YOU WILL GET THEM AND IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’VE COME HOME

2) Darien is Elle’s Fictional Crush in a reboot of her favourite TV Show, and he is SO perfect and insecure and I LOVE HIM ACK.

3) DID I MENTION THAT DARIEN IS A FANBOY? He was a Prince Charming FANBOY. SAVE ME.

4) Sage (Elle’s best friend/ co-worker) with her Green hair and attitude to match is AWESOME and you will fall in love. (Totally think she deserves her own book)

5) It’s such a Cinderella retelling with the BEST KIND OF TWIST.

The only reason this isn’t a five star read for me is because in the end of the book, Elle and Darien were MAGICALLY IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER. I understand having feelings/ being deep on the crush end but I DIDN’T GET HOW THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER.

A hilarious, adorable tribute to fairy tales and fandoms that you NEED TO GET YOUR HANDS ON!

Geekerella is definitely a love letter to fandom. I love any book that speaks to my nerd heart. As a Star Trek, Star Wars (yes both) and Andromeda fan (does anyone remember that show besides me, Kevin Sorbo...come on) I can relate to being a Stargunner.

So I enjoy Cinderella re-tellings but they also really stress me out. I’m always super angry at the step-mom and sisters because they are always messing with the protagonist stuff. I get frustrated if she doesn’t steal whatever it is back or doesn’t stand up for herself. Of course this is a fandom thing so I’m like you know nothing about that fandom! How dare you bandwagon for some star! So I definitely was getting the heated emotions. I thought the way the Cinderella story was incorporated is fabulous, right down to the glass slipper. I feel like this story should be a movie, why is it not a movie!

Elle and Darien are both great MC’s as we get both of their POV. Which I was grateful for, I couldn’t imagine not knowing what the other was thinking. They have similar qualities as they can both be insecure but also have their own inner strength that needs to shine.

I absolutely love Elle and Darien’s interactions, although I kind of wish she said her name was Serena. Ha ha just kidding. The way their relationship starts and how they go back and forth not knowing who the other is. I thought the interactions were so adorkable. Especially since the center mostly around their love of Starfield.

There are some really winners for side characters, which always makes me happy. Sage is pretty awesome and an even better friend. I love the way she is comfortable in her own skin and is there for Elle. She is the true blue. Also Lonny and Gail help even out Darien. I enjoyed their presence as well. Plus Jessica, did not expect her but I loved her honesty.

Plus The Princess Bride reference of “Have fun storming the castle” which I say all the time and people stare at me. So ya I totally nerded out over the book.

Besides me geeking out over every little fandom thing. The book is well written and fast paced. I couldn’t put it down and never once felt like there was a slow point. It completely sucked me in and now I feel like I want to watch Starfield, or maybe read a spin-off of Starfield. (devilish smile). I loved the setting of the convention too and that Elle works in a food truck called the Pumpkin.

I really loved Geekerella. It’s such a fun read and highly recommend it. Especially with it being convention season now. I think it’s a good way to rev up.

I read two YA contemporary books last year that also dealt with fandom (specifically of the sci-fi variety) and cons- while they were cute, something was missing for me so I was originally wary of Geekerella until reviews from friends started coming in. The moment I started reading, I could tell Geekerella was everything I wanted it to be and more.

Right off the bat, it reminded me irresistibly of A Cinderella Story, one of my favorite teen movies. I think it was the combination of the contemporary setting, the texting, and Elle’s image-obsessed stepmother. I loved all the touches that marked it as a Cinderella retelling- the “Magic Pumpkin” food truck, the “Prince”, the “costume ball”. It was so clever and fun! Ashley Poston hit every beat I was hoping for. I’m all for subversive and different retellings, but sometimes a feel-good, classic, recognizable retelling is what I want ?

Of course I loved all of the references to fandom and general nerdery! I’ve been part of various fandoms my whole life and it’s easy to put yourself in Elle’s (and Darien’s) shoes. I also loved that she was a blogger! I used to spend hours on Mugglenet back in the day. The other thing I really enjoyed was the dual POV story. That doesn’t always work but I loved that there was more to Darien than his surface image, and their accidental texting turned friendship was pretty wonderful!

All of the secondary characters add something to the story and Poston does her best to reflect the real world within those characters. Elle’s coworker was a total surprise to me, I didn’t expect to like her so much!Having gone to Wizard World Con last year, it was also easy and fun to picture the convention setting. This book might not be perfect the closer you look, but it made me really happy and sometimes that’s what counts. The acknowledgment almost made me cry! As a fan of so many things, they were really touching and you could tell how much of herself Poston poured into the story.

Long story short: this was everything my Cinderella-loving, geeky fandom heart wanted.

Grade: C
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: There's been a ton of nerdy books cropping up in YA lately, and while Geekerella does little to set itself apart from the crowd, it's still a fun story.
There were strong elements to Geekerella - ExcelsiCon, the costumes, Calliope, and the Magic Pumpkin. But I felt like they were dragged down by a cliche stepmother, a cliche stepsister, and a lack of chemistry. I just didn't buy that Elle and Darien were into each other. And while Catherine and Chloe were stereotypical and nothing out of the ordinary for a Cinderella retelling, Calliope surprised me in many good ways. I could see how she tried to be a better person but was scared to break out of her shell and upset her mother. I also liked her romance sub-plot, although it was a bit unexpected. Honestly, a story with her as the protagonist might've been more fun. I enjoyed how Sage fit the fairy godmother role, and I loved how all the people at the Con came together to help Elle out.
The movie filming seemed to go awfully fast (but then, what do I know?), and I didn't like anyone in Darien's circle, especially Brian. Which, I'm sure we weren't supposed to like Brian, but he annoyed me too much. Elle wasn't an exciting protagonist. Of course I rooted for her because her life was ridiculously unfair, but at the end of the day, there are heroines I liked more.
There's a smattering of s-words, but nothing worse than that. Violence and romantic content are all super clean.

The Verdict: Nice if you want something fluffy. A bit blah otherwise.

I loved all of the geeky elements that were thrown into the mix with this Cinderella re-telling. Can I just say.....it's about time?! This is the Cinderella story that I was waiting for! I feel like this is every fan-girl's dream! I thought that this version of Cinderella was fresh and new for the geeky girl of today. I loved Elle. She just wanted to get away from it all and be accepted for who she was not unlike Darien who was a geek of his own right. I found him adorable and wanted to pinch his cheek so many times!
My only issue with the story is that I wanted the author to venture further away from the original. I feel like I've seen so many of the same elements over and over having to do with Cinderella. It gets tiresome. I did love the tweaks and changes that the author did make. The pumpkin food truck was genius! I would just say push it even further!

If you have ever watched A Cinderella Story (Hilary Duff) and loved it, this is definitely a novel you will want to read. Fans of cult franchises and retellings alike will love this genre mash-up of a cutesy Cinderella-esque geek romance set against the backdrop of contemporary fandoms. Elle has been an avid fan of the Starfield series - obviously, since her parents were the fandom royalty in their time, and even in the present day, the show is the link from her to her parents. It is nearly sacred for her, and learning that teen heartthrob Darien Freeman is going to reprise the role, she isn't happy. Mainly because she doesn't think he cares for the show, really, and more because of his fans who are not flooding the fandom. Darien, meanwhile, has been told to hide his inner geek for his 'image' by his manager aka his dad, but he feels honored and intimidated by his new role. He is learning how to be an actor and the fandom at the same time.

Their meeting is a meet-cute straight from the movies - a miscommunication with numbers, and they start to chat regularly without knowing the others' real identity. At first it is mostly about the show and their shared love for it, but soon they develop a fondness for each other. It is pretty much A Cinderella Story, but fandom-style, with frequent call-outs to LOTR, Firefly, Star Wars, and other shows, and often refers to the fandoms on Tumblr and Twitter, and geek culture, with the conventions and cosplay. It is cute, and familiar, and you feel right at home, because that is how being in a fandom feels (even when it is plagued by damn ship wars). The author excellently brings out the loneliness you feel in the real world, the understanding that can only happen with someone else who shares your passions, the instant connection such a meeting can develop - it is like an homage to geek everywhere. It is not all fun and games, and has some really great emotional moments.

On the retelling front, too, you will find a lot of elements of Cinderella as well as A Cinderella Story - it is like a double retelling, a retelleception, if you may! (I'm not sorry about that one) Elle works in a restaurant, she has twin stepsisters, she chats with a stranger, they connect, they meet and things sort of fall apart, her sister tries to take the credit, and you know the rest. Sure, the ending is a bit unrealistic and there are a lot of things that can be impossible, but it was a good plot nevertheless. I loved the characters created - right from Elle, the strong girl who emulates the fierce princess of her fandom, to Darien, the dorky teen star who has to put on a mask daily, to the stepmother who was reminiscent of Cate Blanchett in Disney's Cinderella, and I loved the pumpkin carriage, the 'godmother' of a friend, Sage, and the overall atmosphere of the book. It gave me all the feels!

What an absolutely brilliant modern day version of Cinderella for grown ups! I loved reading this fun remake of the fairy tale. Elle Wittimer lives with her step mother and twin step sisters following the untimely death of her beloved parents. Her Dad was a huge fan of the classic television series, Starfield, so much so that he and Elle’s Mum were the instigators of the ExcelsiCon, a convention for fans. Elle still loves the series and regularly watches re-runs (when she can escape the attentions of her step-family) and has created a fan blog about the series. When news of a movie remake of the series is publicised and it is said to star teen actor Darien Freeman, Elle blogs her negative opinions – and these are viewed and shared by millions. She’s astounded as she wasn’t convinced many people actually read it. Little did she know but one of her readers is Darien, another Starfield geek!

Darien used to attend cons before becoming a famous star actor. He’s worried about his latest role, hoping he can do justice to the series he loves but certainly not happy to discover he’s also meant to be attending ExcelsiCon, something he hasn’t agreed to do. He tries to phone the organiser but rings Elle instead. This starts an exchange of Starfield themed texts. As their exchanges geek along, the two grow closer but neither knows the person they are texting or what they look like. However, with her stepmother so against the convention and him hiding his true identity, will they ever get to meet? Well, being a fairy tale, of course they do! By the way, look at the cover and you should see ‘The Magic Pumkin” – a vegan fast food outlet where Elle works and the equivalent to the coach in Cinderella!

If you’re a nerd about any science fiction television of film series (yes, guilty – though not as much as my daughter . . . she learnt from me and took it even further) I suspect that, whatever your age, you’ll also love this story. It has an appetising mix of fandom, fairy tale and fun with a great range characters. Sage has to be one of my favourites, but there are many twists and surprises along the way. It is a brilliant modern take on Cinderella and is definitely going to be one of those rare stories that I know I’ll re-read and keep on laughing out loud at some of the antics, action and activities as it progresses. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this to anyone looking for an engaging, fun(ny) fairytale with contemporary, charismatic characters, a well-crafted story and (only after lots of problems including a lost glass slipper) the happy ever after required for the main characters!

Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite!

I requested and received a copy of this story via NetGalley and this is my honest review after reading it. I am so glad I spotted this book and my request to read it was approved – it will definitely be one of my best reads for 2017 – Fandoms rule!

Elle's father was a huge Starfield fan and passed on his love of the show on to Elle. When Elle's father passes away, she is stuck living with her cruel stepmother and her twin daughters. Her stepmother pushes her daughters to strive for the "perfect image". Meanwhile, she has Ella making them breakfast every morning, cleaning the house, and basically being her slave for whatever she wants. Ella has dreams to attend ExcelsiCon, the convention her dad founded, and entering the cosplay contest. Ella can't stand that they are casting teen heartthrob, Darien Freeman, in the role of Carmindor, her favorite character. She angrily posts about it on her blog, unknowing that it would go viral and be read by none other than Darien Freeman. Darien tries to call and back out of attending the ExcelsiCon event, but ends up reaching Ella's phone instead. They continue texting, unknowing who the other really is.

I thought this one was super sweet. Maybe a little too sweet at times, but definitely what I needed after reading a super angsty book right before this one. There are a lot of fairytale retellings out right now, but I thought this was a great modern retelling. There were a few really cheesy parts, but overall I really enjoyed it. I loved the banter and dorkiness between Elle and Darien through text messaging.

Elle never had too many friends growing up, so I loved when her and Sage became friends. Sage is an awesome secondary character. I honestly think she made the story for me. She always had Elle's back and didn't make any excuses for the way she was.

I enjoyed Darien's character a lot too. He was afraid to let anyone close to him after being burned by a friendship before. He is also unfairly judged by a lot of people, Elle included, because they see him as nothing but a teen heartthrob when he's really just as much of a superfan of Starfield as everyone else. Both Elle and Darien did frustrate me with the way they let people walk all over them though. Darien with his dad/manager, and Elle with her stepmother and sister. I was glad when I finally got to "see" them both stick up for themselves a little more.

If you are looking for a really sweet, Cinderella retelling then this may be the book for you, especially if you have a dorky side too. This one was a touch too sweet/cheesy for me but the characters won me out in the end and I ended up enjoying it a lot.

*I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. *

This book combined two of my favorite things: Cinderella and "geeky" fandoms. Geekerella had everything I was hoping for in a geeky modern retelling of Cinderella. This book was simply adorable. I loved all of the callbacks to the original fairytale and how the author put cute and moderns twists on classic plot points of the fairytale.

The two main characters, Elle and Darien, were precious. I fell in love with both of their characters and I wanted them to get their happily ever afters! They were both well-developed and easy to relate to. I loved getting to know them throughout the book and watch them grow. I also liked a lot of the side characters, especially Sage. Sage was hilarious and so witty! I loved how she was there for Elle no matter what. She was such a great friend, and I was so happy that the author made sure to include such a strong female friendship.

The romance in this book was adorable and it made me smile like an idiot. The romance was so modern and relatable. The author did a great job at making the romance feel realistic, even if it did seem like a fairytale. DARIEN AND ELLE ARE SO FREAKING CUTE TOGETHER. THEY ARE THE PERFECT NERDY COUPLE AND IT MADE MY HEART SO HAPPY. #RelationshipGoals

The author really nailed the whole fandom aspect, and I ADORED it. I totally understood the geeky references and the emotional roller coaster of being in a fandom. I was in nerd heaven while reading this book!

I noticed that one reviewer (A.J.) pointed out that a side character was helping plan a wedding at a southern plantation, which caught the eye of the author. I am so glad that A.J. did that, because I also thought that was unnecessary and uncomfortable. I really hope that this will be changed or handled differently in a later print of the book.

Overall, I thought this was a precious and smile-inducing read. I am so glad I got the opportunity to read this adorable geeky read! This is perfect for fandom loving readers and for readers who love a cute Cinderella retelling!

4 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

“Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.”

*squeals* I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS STORY!!!!!!! The plot, the characters, the romance, the fandom….oh! It was perfect and I’m so glad that I picked it up. It was everything I adore about a story and more. My heart exploded and I had a permanent smile from start to finish.

Reasons Why I Loved It:
- It’s a modern retelling of Cinderella. Retellings are so much fun!
- It features a POC lead character who was all kinds of swoon worthy and adorable.
- I could totally identify with Elle, the main character. I’m obsessed with shows such as Firefly and Battlestar Galactica. Yes they are made up and perhaps I take them a little bit too seriously but they make me happy. They get me through tough times. Elle also used her love of a sci-fi show Starfield to help her deal with some difficult circumstances.
- Talking about Elle, she was one of my favourite parts of this book. She’s brave, honest and willing to take risks. My heart was fully invested in her journey. I was emotionally all over the place. I was smiley like crazy when she was happy and outraged when a certain character tries to upstage her. I want more characters like Elle!
- Fandoms are interesting things. The message of the book was perfect. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been a fan for ages or are new to the TV show or movie or whatever. Fandoms are for celebrating our love of a particular show or character. Nobody should judge you on how “into” the fandom you are. THANK YOU!
- It also touched on how sci-fi is very male dominated. Gender doesn’t dictate your love of a particular genre or how much knowledge you have about a show. I always felt strange letting people know I was so nerdy or into certain shows. But guess what? I don’t care anymore. I’m a sci-fi nerd and proud of it! I wish I would have had this book when I was a teen.
- Sage, Elle’s friend, was simply kickass and amazing! She’s simply the best!

This book was so much fun to read! It brought be tons of joy, smiles, laughs. It had it all and I can’t recommend it enough.

Review first posted at Girl Who Reads. An advance reader's copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Elle lives with her stepmother and twin stepsisters, who are all interested in makeup, social media, impressing others, and looking their best. Elle, on the other hand, loves the show Starfield, which her late parents had loved. In fact, her father had founded ExcelsiCon, the large convention in Atlanta. Elle and all the other fans of Starfield are upset with the movie reboot being filmed, and Darien Freeman is just as nervous. Unbeknownst to the public, he's also a fan of the original show and doesn't like the publicity stunts his manager father pushes him to do. He tried to call ExcelsiCon's staff to get out of some appearances, leading to him beginning to text Elle and discuss fannish theories.

The book is subtitled "A Fangirl Fairy Tale," and that it certainly is. There are wonderful nods to other fannish interests, and Starfield is very reminiscent of Star Trek. ExcelCon seems more like Dragon*Con, and the Cosplay Ball is a great way to tie cosplay and the Cinderella stories. Elle's fairy godmother is a fun addition because it isn't such an obvious parallel in the beginning. Elle herself is a believable and relate-able mix of defeatism and hope, just as every other geeky seventeen year old would be. There's a strength in her, even when she feels trapped by others' expectations and her lack of resources. While she still gets "rescued" by her prince in a way, Elle also has her own independent attempts to break free and still be true to herself.

This is a fun YA book that lovingly understands the teen geek and fully lives up to the "part love letter to nerd culture" description for the book.

I was really excited about reading this book for 3 reasons:
1. Cinderella is one of my favorites fairy tales.
2. I love re-tellings
3. I am a geek and I was cosplayer.
So, even tho we all now how the cinderella story develope, I actually loved very much this ride. I liked the introduction of this fairy tale to the modern world and over all, to the fandom world.
I am a former cosplayer and I almost cried with every moment were the real spirit of cosplaying is shown, even now I am thinking about doing one just to recall all the good emotions that doing cosplay gave me.
I loved the figure of the father, he was awesome and I even missed him along with Elle everytime that she did.
Other thing that I loved is that I saw a little bit more influence from the "Ever after" movie, than the original Cinderella plot, and well, I LOVE that movie because Danielle is fierce, stubborn, smart and passionate,, so 10 points to Gryffindor for that!

This book is a total YES for all people out there that are part of a fandom, the geeks, the ones that choose to believe in magic, parallel worlds, spaceships and that needs to know that you will never be alone because a fandom is a family.

Geekerella is a modern day retelling of the classic fairytale, Cinderella. Our protagonist is Ella and the most important thing in her life is fandom, specifically her love of Starfleet. It was a show that she watched on re-runs with her dad and fell in love with. Her father even started a convention called Excelsicon because of his love of Starfleet. After her mother died when she was a small child, it was just Ella and her dad. Unfortunately, her father got remarried and later died in a car accident leaving Ella with her step-mother and two step-sisters. They didn’t understand her love of the sci-fi cult hit and treated her more like a servant than a sister.

Geekerella is a cute contemporary novel that will speak to your fandom loving heart. Even if you’re not super into sci-fi, comics, comic con, cosplay or those types of things, I think you will enjoy the classic human experience portrayed in this book. The Cinderella retelling aspect of the story was the least relevant to my reading experience. I personally enjoyed the development of friendly and romantic relationships, the geeking out over fandoms and the personal growth seen in this novel.

The main characters are likable and relatable, despite the fact that one of them is famous. He alternates between wanting to be normal, or down to earth, and succumbing to the intoxicating appeal of being famous. Even though you generally know the bones of the story if you’re familiar with Cinderella, the story itself doesn’t feel incredibly formulaic and can surprise you at times.

Highly recommended to young adult/teen fan of contemporary books, teen romance, nerd/geekdom, comic con, cosplay, fairytale retellings

Rating: 4.5 Stars

"Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite."

This is an adorable Cinderella retelling, that simply delighted me. I swear, I loved every second of it.

Our heroine, Elle, is a total Starfield fangirl. She grew up immersed in the world, but she is not fully enjoying the latest reboot without her father by her side. In an effort to escape her miserable circumstances, she hatches a plan to attend the ExcelsiCon in order to win the cosplay contest and the trip to the LA premiere of the new Starfield movie.

Things I loved:
-Tons of geek culture! I loved the way Poston illustrated the fandom, and really enjoyed all the Starfield bits.
-Elle is an awesome heroine. She was constantly taking a lot of knocks, but she kept getting back up. She didn't have a huge support system, but she did have Sage.
-Speaking of Sage, she was fantastic! What a great analog to the fairy godmother (at least, that's how I saw her). She was an empowered young woman, who just worried about being herself. She was also snarky, hilarious, and a steadfast friend.
-I thought this was a fun retelling. I greatly enjoyed mapping the original to Poston's version. It was an amusing and entertaining translation, that brought me miles of smiles.
-Darian's and Elle's text message romance made my heart pitter patter. I don't know why I love this plot device so much, but I like it in every book I read. Maybe it's the honesty that the anonymity allows each character to express. Whatever the reason, I adored the back and forth between Darian and Elle.

This story sort of had everything I needed: a heroine I could love, a hero who could make me swoon and giggle, villains I could hate, supporting characters who were robust and contributed in huge ways to the story, and an adorable romance.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher for review.

Geekerella is readily recognizable as both a Cinderella retelling and a paradise for nerd references. The geek in me loved being in on the secret code and reading about characters who love genres I do.

One of the best parts of this retelling is that Prince Charming isn't perfect, in perception or reality, and Darien Freeman really shines as a protagonist in his own right. He's a young actor struggling to prove himself as a professional without losing the real him in the process. Add in a manipulative father, a jealous co-star, a stalker and a blogger out for blood, and he has plenty of conflict and character development.

Unfortunately, the weakest part of the book is Elle. She embodies the usual Cinderella complaints--too passive, lacks agency, won't stand up for herself, etc. Elle doesn't have much to lose, but she lets her stepfamily walk all over her and it doesn't make sense. It makes the "fairy godmother" best friend necessary, but it sometimes makes Elle look like a whiny wuss. That said, Elle's failings aren't overwhelming since half the book is from Darien's POV, and I think readers will still like the romance.

Picky points: there are more than a few typos/mistypes in the finished copy. I hope they're corrected if Geekerella gets a second printing. Also, this probably makes me a bigger nerd, but as a law school student I was curious about the dad's will regarding the house. I have questions.

Overall, I enjoyed Geekerella and highly recommend it to fans of fairy tale retellings and fellow nerds looking for books that speak geek.

Geekerella is a nerdtastic piece of fiction that includes all of the wonderful nerd fandoms that are floating around the world today. It is the epitome of what it is like to lose yourself into a fandom, a world beyond this on, a world where no matter what your background is you can find someone that shares your love for something.
As a fan of Doctor Who I was thrilled to see references to Doctor Who. There were so many other references to fandoms far and wide. It was beautifully fantastic and pure nerdgasam.
I will tell you one thing, I want to be part of the starfield fandom because it seems like such a wonderful show. But just because this book is based on a show that doesn’t exist does not mean that this story lacks at anything. It is the Ciderella retelling that goes straight to the fan girls heart. Falling in love with prince charming over text messages! I mean, this story was everything that our world is today. We talk to complete strangers, our best friends are sitting hundreds of miles away behind a computer screen, and we all search for that once place that we feel like we fit.
This story could not have been any better. I want to rant and rave about the way Elle was treated, but it’s the same rant that I have for every Cinderella retelling. Her stepmother and stepsisters were horrible to her. Though I do enjoy this new trend where one sister is not actually all that evil and basically just the one girl behind the scenes afraid to do anything about what she sees.
In the end, this book was exactly what my little nerd heart was reaching out for, calling for, and needed in my life. The best part about this story is that it is so close to the truth of the world we live in. I may not be trading text with a famous hunk, but who hasn’t fallen in love with the pretty words of a bare soul? And the only way we get to experience that naked soul and emotions is if we are safely tucked away behind our phones or our computers.
But it wasn’t just about that. It was about finding your inner strength to go out and fight for what you really want. This story was about standing up for yourself, going for your dreams, and never giving up. I loved everything about this story. I couldn’t wait to power through it to the end to see how everything unfolded, because no matter how many Cinderella retellings you read, there is always that simple fear that Cinderella (Ella, Elle, Cinder) will not get that happy ending. No matter how many times you have heard the story, when it is presented properly, your heart still soars when everything falls into place and the little cinder girl gets her much deserved happy ending.

This was absolutely the cutest story I have ever read this year. All the pop culture references, the geeky convention it's centered around, everything, it made my heart warm.

You have Danielle, or Elle to her friends, living a modern-day Cinderella life with a stepmonster and evil stepsister(s), dead parents, isolated life, low self-esteem. She's the daughter of Robin Wittimer, the founder of ExcelsiCon, but she hasn't been to one since she was a kid. She's a "Starfield" über fan, and though the show has been off the air for decades, Hollywood, like it's been known to do, plans to do a reboot and bring the show to the big screen.

This is where Darien Freeman comes in. A closet geek, he comes off like any other young celebrity these days: arrogant, with a massive ego, and just generally an a-hole because he's so popular with the ladies; he's been chosen to be the new Federation Prince Carmindor, and it's a dream role of his as he's a huge fan of the show, as well. He's also been scheduled to do the ExcelsiCon convention afterwards to judge the annual cosplay contest, something he'd rather not do because it holds bitter memories.

Not everyone is excited about Darien's part in the movie; which I completely understand, because I can get so caught up in the original of something, that I'm too stubborn to give a new version a shot, whether it deserves one or not. We've all been there. That's just fandom life. It's great, but sometimes you get stuck in your feelings and mistrust and that's not always the best.

Anyway, Elle runs a blog dedicated to "Starfield" and after she writes a post about her feelings towards Darien Freeman taking over her beloved Carmindor role, her harsh criticism of the actor goes viral. Suddenly her blog is hitting numbers she never dreamed of, and people are expressing agreement over her assumptions that Darien is the worst choice for Prince Carmindor and the tabloid sites run with it.

Darien finds this blog post after a "Starfield" fan cuts him down for daring to play such an esteemed character, and this leads to him trying to get into contact with whom he believes is the director of ExcelsiCon, and thus begins the texting relationship between Elle and the very person she hates, but she obviously doesn't know that, just as he has no idea that he's conversing with the blogger who rakes him over the coals.

In case I forgot to mention (I know I did), this is a Cinderella retelling, obviously set in the world of geekdom, told in dueling points-of-views of Elle and Darien, and while both characters started to annoy me with their woe-is-me, I still very much enjoyed the ride the story brought.

Speaking of the woe-is-me: Darien is struggling with his thrust into fame, and he's built a wall around himself for protection and assumes the worst from people because someone whom he thought was a friend betrayed his trust for money, and the only person who he can turn to is his handler, Gail, and soon, his bodyguard. His father is his manager, and we find out just what he's willing to sacrifice when it comes to keeping his son "relevant."

Elle's woe-is-me is a bit more whiny than I'd have liked. I mean, I get it, her stepmother is evil. Her stepsisters are evil, too. Or at least one of them is. The other, we find out, is struggling to find who she really is, and it's kind of beautiful to see her come into her own, the little that we saw, anyway.

But I loved the texting between Elle and Darien, and how they connected over him texting a wrong number (which wasn't technically "wrong," because the number belonged to Elle's dad and she inherited his phone, so...), and then connected further over "Starfield" and soon that morphed into more getting-to-know-you texts and confiding in each other not knowing who the person is, or what they looked like.

And, of course, you can't have a Cinderella retelling without the iconic lost slipper or the pumpkin, which is actually a food cart and makes me hungry just thinking about chimichangas, vegan or not, and I have to say that I really enjoyed the fact that neither character was apart from each other for too long, because I would've hated it if their separation got dragged out for whatever reason. But it didn't, and the "Happily Ever After" was cute.

So, yeah. As much as I loved this story, how light and fluffy and sweet it was, I only gave it four stars because of the whining. It started to get to be too much, but I loved the setting and learning more about fandoms and cosplay and how serious some people take their passion and it makes me wish that I could afford to go to ComiCon or something, because I bet it's a blast every year.

All in all, if you're into modern-day retellings or you're a fellow geek for something, this book may be right up your alley.

This review first appeared on Quartzfeather.

I received an arc from the publisher for review consideration (thanks Quirk!) this in no way affected my review, cross my heart.

Well that was a good book, a very, very good book. It's been a while since I handed out a 5 star rating without much hesitation (I generally agonize about ratings, 5 stars in particular, so something like this only happens once upon a blue moon).

It's also been a while since I've stayed up way too late reading. 1:00 am Cassidy, much to the chagrin* of 7:00 am Cassidy, decided reading was more important than getting a good night's sleep and not feeling like crap the next morning. So, you know, read at your own risk, sleep deprivation may be an unfortunate side effect.

*Hehe, new favorite word! You'll probably be seeing it quite a bit.

I was in love from the very first page, the writing is fluid and captivating, and the familiar elements of the Cinderella story make you feel right at home (is that a weird thing to say?).

Speaking of Cinderella, Geekerella is one of the most unique retellings I've read so far. My love for all things fandom (well not the nasty shipping wars) combined with my adoration of retellings, makes this book absolutely perfect for me. Ashley Poston turns the beautiful dress from the original story into a cosplay, the ball becomes ExcelsiCon, and last but not least, the role of the famous pumpkin carriage is fulfilled by the Magic Pumpkin food truck (all this is just too clever!). While the plot is a bit predictable at times, because you kind of already know what's gonna happen with the Cinderella bit, there are plenty of new details and plot lines to keep you guessing and the story fresh.

With this book, Poston has pretty much inducted me into the Starfield fandom. Whenever I see the phrase "Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.", I get fangirl chills* (haha go Federation Prince Carmindor!!!). Every word of Geekerella is infused with pure geekiness and so much love for fandoms, that I can't help but adore it. White-washing is also brought up, which is great, because it's an issue and topic which I've seen discussed a lot within my various fandoms, so it made the Starfield fandom feel that much more real.

*Are those even real, or am I making stuff up again?

My only real complaint is that the side characters were rather flat; however, I was so enamored with the main characters, Elle and Darien, that it didn't end up having a huge effect on my reading experience.

Some Cover Thoughts: Geekerella's cover perfectly represents the book, as it incorporates many elements of the story, including the Magic Pumpkin food truck, Elle's cosplay, and even Franco, a completely adorable dachshund, in a tiny coat. The minimalistic design, combined with the color block style of the art results in a very eye-catching cover. I've been seeing more illustrated YA covers lately, and am loving this apparent new trend. On the other hand, the dress on the cover doesn't really match the one in the book, I believe it was described as a darker shade of blue. Instead, the one on the cover is reminiscent of the dress in Disney's version of Cinderella.

After reading both Geekerella and Queens of Geek, I now really, really want to go to a con, be it BEA or San Diego Comic-Con. Maybe I'll see you guys at one of them someday... (shhhh, let me dream and ignore the fact that being stuck in the American school system for the next eight years, lowers the possibly of this scenrio to about a .001 (AKA très tiny))*.

*Punctuation inception!!!

This novel takes Cinderella to a whole other galactic level. I am still very new to the YA Contemporary scene however this book made me want to dive in face first. It's cute, funny, heart-wrenching, and (my favorite) filled with adorable romance. I really enjoyed the fandom aspect of this story. Elle is a huge fan of Starfield, a science fiction TV show that equates to Star Trek or Star Wars in our dimension. These things have a following! With almost anything now a fandom develops. There is nothing like sharing your love of a favorite TV show, book, or movie with someone else. You want to bring them into the world you know and care about. That is EXACTLY what Geekerella does!

We enter Elle's world and become a Starfield fan ourselves! We hope the movie spin-off tanks because who likes those anyway! Ashley creates very relatable characters. Elle has lost her parents and is still tormented with grief. Her evil stepmother, Catherine, is literally the spawn of Satan. Somewhere along the way, Satan spawned two offspring Chloe and Calliope. While Catherine's behavior can seem outlandish for a mother, it works so well for this story. I think she is worse than Lady Tremaine from the original Cinderella! Calliope's character arc was incredibly well done. Not to spoil anything, but don't count her out when you start the book!

This brings me to Sage, Elle co-worker. She is so wonderful and her friendship is so refreshing. Elle and Sage communicate and talk. Not much at first, but as those walls come down. I would read a whole series about Elle and Sage adventures in the Magic Pumpkin! The budding romance between Elle and Darien was so fun to read. I was hoping for my happy ending and I got it! There is nothing wrong with happy endings, this is a fairy tale re-telling after all!!!

I read Ashley's acknowledgments for Geekerella and my heart swelled with happiness! Don't be afraid of sharing the things you love! My boyfriend calls me a nerd for my book reading habits or how excited I get when I book I am anticipating finally get released and I have learned to love it! There are so many others like you that can't wait to watch a new episode of a TV show! Love your fandom and love who you are because of it!

I loved every single geeky reference in this book!!! In the very first chapter she says a silent prayer to Q and I knew I was going to love it! The con, the cosplay, the fans, the loyalty were all amazing and gave me a warm fuzzy feeling for all people on all levels of nerd-ness. The fact that she was just SO nervous about a new movie and a new actor destroying her favorite series is a feeling I know too well, and it was so nice to read about someone else feeling that way! Her loyalty to her show and her fiction were so strong and it was so fun to be able to nod along and know exactly how she feels!

The book lacked a little in the story. There wasn't a lot to show how the characters grew to like each other. Mostly we were caught up in their every day lives, and their growing relationship was just a side note. There are a few texts between them, then it skips forward in time and the characters are saying they have strong feelings for the people at the other end, but we don't really get to be a part of that. I did however, LOVE their dialog, their spirit, and their antics. Their lives were fun to be lost in!

In the end it was a fun little story about a fantasy most of us nerds have had, and though the romance was a little lacking, the geek world was definitely not!

I loved this sweet, modern retelling of Cinderella. Elle Wittimer is a fangirl, and blogger, of all things Starfield. When she finds out that a teen hearthrob actor will be playing the lead character in the movie reboot of her beloved Starfield, she almost loses her mind. Thankful, and with the help of a new friend, she makes her way to a cosplay contest at the con that her father started many years before.
Elle must overcome her stepmother, awful stepsisters, and a slew of other problems in order to make it to the con. Only then can she show the world that she isn't a nobody.
This really is a sweet book and both of the main characters quickly work their way into your heart. I love retellings, and this was no exception, other than it had some great twists and turns that I didn't expect. Very well done and very enjoyable.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for approving me for this e-arc. I actually wasn’t sure I’d be able to get to it on such short notice, but it was a fairly quick and easy read.

If you couldn’t already tell from the title, Geekerella is a Cinderella retelling with nerdy twist. I really wasn’t expecting to like this novel as much as a did, but who was I kidding? I’m a sucker for cinderella-story like plots. If you enjoy “Cinderella Story” movie franchise like me, I know for a fact you’ll enjoy this.

This novel features a fandom that I completely wish was real and something I could be apart of. It’s a sci-fi space show (similar to Star Trek, Star Wars, etc) called “Starfield.” The more the two main characters geek about it the more I wish I could have seen this show and joined the fandom. The author grasped the life that is a fandom and incorporated it so well into the story & that’s why Starfield felt like it could be real. I totally petition for this show to exist and for us to all go to ExcelsiCon. Also this book made me really want to go to a convention like this some day.

Another thing I enjoyed was the characters. Darien was so chill and down to earth and funny, I absolutely loved reading his chapters. I also liked how the author incorporated the message of teens getting to see themselves represented in media. Darien is an asian-american actor and he explained how watching the original Starfield when he was growing up made him happy because he got to see Carmindor, someone who looked like him, in a main role.

As for the other main character, Elle. I loved her fiery personality when it came out, but I also related a lot to her nerdy side. This book in general is a perfect nod to anyone who’s ever been obsessed with a fandom and the characters are all easily relatable.

If you’re looking for a quick, extremely fun and nerdy romance, I’d pick up Geekerella. I enjoyed this novel the whole way through and was glad I decided to pick it up, as I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get to it. Geekerella is out today everywhere so yay! Grab a copy!

Elle Wittimer is a fandom geek. More specifically, a Starfield geek. Her father founded a convention dedicated it it, so she grew up in the fandom naturally. Until her father died, leaving Elle with her stepmonster and twin stepsisters.

While Geekerella is a modern retake on Cinderella, it's also put an entire new spin on the story. We've got a self rescuing princess, a prince who isn't completely confident in himself, a fairy godmother who drives a food truck, and only one charming animal companion for our princess.

When Elle learns that the Starfield movie is going to star Darien Freeman, she's understandable upset. Why cast a teen heartthrob as the captain of the Prospero? Especially when he isn't even a fan. How can he possibly do justice to Prince Carmindor?

Darien is nervous and excited. He's just been cast in the role of a lifetime, Prince Carmindor of Starfield. How could a fan get a bigger role of his dreams? Now he just has to prove to all the doubters that he can be Carmindor, not just play him.

After a text to the wrong number for ExcelsiCon, Elle and Darien strike up a conversation that blooms into something more. The anonymity of the internet worked in their favor this time, allowing to people to form a connection that would never have happened otherwise. And while there are some serious obstacles in the way, Elle and Darien, as their anonymous alter-egos try to let that connection grow.

Geekerella flips back and forth between the perspectives of Ella and Darien, and with each chapter marked as to who is talking, it's very easy to follow. The flow is great between the chapters, and it's incredibly easy to read. The twists and turns are fairly predictable, it is a story we know by heart after all. But there are some charming twists on the familiar details that make it fresh, and relevant in the age of the internet.

A huge part of Geekerella is the con and fandoms. ExcelsiCon may have started for fans of Starfield, but as many cons do, it's grown to embrace geeks of all stripes. And being reminded at a few spots during the book that fandoms really are all interconnected was beautiful. And while there may not be a Happily Ever After, there is a (mostly) Happily Ever Now.

Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite

This is a modern retelling of cinderella set in the present day and I thought it was OK. Its a very quick read- I read it in several hours.
Things I liked: I liked that Elle was a 'geek' and it explored the present day fan culture with cosplay and conventions and I thought the author did a really good job in expressing how these fandoms can be so important.
Things I didn't like: there wasn't anything I didn't really like, per se, but there was nothing that really wowed me. Nothing that made me fall in love with this story. I enjoyed the character of Elle and Darien and Sage but there was never anything to completely invest me into the characters. Also the romance between Darien and Elle fell kind of short in my opinion.
Its an enjoyable book and if you like fairytale reimaginings or fandom culture in books than I would definitely pick this up. But if you are looking for something thats gonna stay with you I would probably skip.

This is a contemporary young adult book that is a retelling of Cinderella.

We follow Elle as she struggles in her everyday life. Since her father's death, she feels alone. She is trying to please her step-mother and her step-sisters without ever actually being able to do that. She is also a fan of Starfield, a sci-fi series she grew up watching with her father, and she desperately wants to go to a convention her father helped establish so she could participate in the cosplay.
The other character we follow is Darien, a young soap star that was cast for the role of Carmindor, the main character in the Starfield movie adaptation. He is going through his own struggles, from dealing with his father/manager to people not taking him seriously as an actor. He is also faced with enraged fans who believe he is not the right fit to fill the role of Carmindor.
The two story lines come together in a cute, but rather average YA read.
What I liked most about this book is the portrayal of fandom. I thought that was really well done. We have seen many times in real life how fans react to casting news when it comes to their favorite characters, but this gave us the opportunity to see how an actor might feel when faced with all the heat.
The other thing that I liked was how the author managed to capture the feeling of being trapped in a situation. Both of the main protagonists are dealing with this and I think that is something everyone can relate to no matter our age.
So all in all this is an enjoyable read and I think that teenagers, who are the target audience, will relate to it very well.

This retelling of Cinderella is a contemporary take, perfect for anyone who has ever loved a fandom. The decision to make "Prince Charming" a movie star is brilliant, and the fact that his side of the story is an important part of the plot adds a lot to the tale you think you know. And you do know this story, but if you think that means you won't feel anxious, you are wrong. This evil stepmother is wicked, and if her brand of mean feels a bit thick at times, it doesn't stop you from feeling outraged when she pulls her ugly stunts. Despite her dark cloud, the modern touches are charming - from the pumpkin themed food truck to the decidedly modern take on the fairy godmother - it is worth reading just to study the parallels. The vibe is more teen movie than fairytale, but I think it will appeal to a pretty broad audience. I'm definitely adding it to my high school classroom library wishlist and recommending it to fans of reimagined fairy tales as well as those who love a good fandom. Language and situations are appropriate for grades 9+, but adults can enjoy it as well. I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, but this in no way influenced my review.

“Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.”

Two words: Totally adorable. This is a fluffy and light retelling of Cinderella and I freaking adored it!

Elle Wittimer is such a relatable geek, I liked her immediately. Her favorite fandom is Starfield which appears to be a mix of Star Trek and Star Wars.
She also has an own blog where she talks abouts Starfield. It is multiple times mentioned that she writes fanfiction and I would have loved to see more of that, maybe even an excerpt of one of her stories.

I also liked that Elle's stepsisters were not only the bad and mean guys (well, one of them at least) but I would have preferred that her stepmom had more background and depth, she was too one-dimensional for me. Elle's co-worker and friend Sage was definitely my favourite character in this book, she had a sick sassy attitude which was awesome.

Darien was a likeable guy but I couldn't fully connect with him throughout the book.
This book does have insta-love in it, though a not too strong one but it was to be expected, so I did not mind it very much.

All in all, a loveable and heartwarming Cinderella retelling.

Danielle "Elle" Wittimer is our Cinderella and is a huge fan of a SciFi series called Starfield that she used to watch with her father, a series that is also about to get a reboot. She'd not impressed with the news or the new actor playing her beloved character, but once she sees the prize available for the person who wins the cosplay contest at ExcelsiCon, she decides to try and possibly win to fund her getting away from her step family. She might just be a glass shoe (see what I did there, lol?) in for the competition because her parents were the actual founders of ExcelsiCon and huge cosplayers.

The new actor chosen to be Elle's favorite character, Carmindor, is Darius Freeman. He's feeling the pressure of the Starfield fan base's hate, and while trying to find a way out of the competition judging, he ends up connecting with Elle and relearning why he, too, fell in love with the Starfield series.

This is a very cute story. Different spin on the Cinderella classic. In fact, I would say that it has a very similar vibe to the Disney Cinderella Story made for tv movies. Had a few typos that could've been caught, but over all fun read.

This book resembles a Cinderella re-telling and it tells the story of a girl called Elle, she considers herself the biggest Starfield fan, she has her own blog and she wants to go to ExcelsiCon and enter the cosplay contest on the other hand we have Darien, the guy meant to play the main lead in the upcoming Starfield movie adaptation, he isn’t very comfortable with going to cons and he know the hardcore fans don’t think he will do a good job as Carmindor.

The way these two complemented each other and supported one another through some really heavy situations was very sweet and cute, I was frustrated at times by their insecurities but I guess we all go through some of that growing up (and even when you are grown up).

The book was really good, it had some pretty cool plot twists that only added to my excitement and investment in the book, I liked some side characters a lot and I hoped we got to see more of them and we kind of did. The writing was perfect for this book, fun and light at times and thoughtful and sentimental at others.

OMGoodness!!! How come more people don't talk about this book?!? I need candles, and bookmarks and Fandom things for it! This book... Guys, this book made my little nerdy ? heart sing and explode with nerdy fandom love.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston, is a wonderful, geeky Cinderella retelling for the modern geeky age. It is super cute! It had me laughing, crying, giggling and poking my boyfriend to share nerd popculture and Fandom references with him. (It even had a Gilmore Girls reference!) I flew through this book like I haven't done in awhile. If you are a nerd or a geek and love fandoms like Star Trek, Star Wars, Firefly, or a lover of cons (comic anime, Sci-fi, etc) as I am, I highly recommend this book! Hands down 5 ? ? ? ? ? stars!

Geekerella is a charming love letter to fandoms, optimism, and the blessing of finding your tribe.
The characters in Geekerella run the range from believable and endearing to overdrawn. I never could quite believe the stepmom, Catharine. She was a little overdone, as the "evil step-moms" often are. She filled a role but I didn't see exactly what power she had over Danielle, who had planned to run away to L.A. In fact, that was one of the only things I didn't like about Danielle's character, also. However, that tiny bit aside, I enjoyed the rest of the characters in the book. I didn't know going in that it was multiple pov but getting Darien's side of the story was a fantastic choice. I think I liked his characterization best of all.
One of the other things I liked is that the emotions were really explored. It wasn't just a cute plot with clever pop-culture references; the characters' feelings matched the action and the author took the time to let us see them all. In fact, my two favorite elements of the book were Danielle's relationship to her mom and dad and the emotional connection that left an imprint in her life and also the authors portrayal of fandom and the emotional connections we find in uniting behind what we love.
Also a bonus, a resolution that doesn't end at a happily-ever-after but actually moves us forward to get a real sense of closure.
It had its tiny flaws, but overall I can see this being a book that many people will enjoy. (It's also clean enough that I can recommend it to my students!)

Wonderful story. I really enjoyed the pacing of the story.

Elle is a huge fan of an old sci-fi tv series that she loved with her dad who has passed away. The story is being revamped into a new movie and she's not too happy about who they picked for the lead. She writes a very popular blog about the series. She also has a step mother and two stepsisters who treat her like crap.

Darien Freeman is a star of a romantic ya tv series and is also a fan of the show but most people do not want to give him the chance to do really well in it. They never really mention that Darien is black but they do mention that he has brown skin. But I sort of like that because it really doesn't affect the storyline at all.

Elle and Darien accidentally start texting each other knowing very little about each other. Elle doesn't find out that Darien is the guy she has developed feelings for. He doesn't know that she is the one who wrote the scathing review of him.

This book was adorably geeky and fun. While reading it, I had complete A Cinderella Story vibes (you know you love that cheesy movie!) It was perfect YA fluff and I would have no qualms about giving it to any of the geeky girls in my life.

My favorite character BY FAR was Sage. She was so well developed and cool that I would have loved to see even more of her. I love when books have LGBT characters that they don't make a big deal about. They just let them live their life without making their sexuality the main event.

I wasn't a big fan of this cover when I first saw it, but the pics I've been seeing on Instagram of the hardcover make me want a copy for my bookshelf. It is GORGEOUS and photographs so well that I just want to buy it and take pictures. In short, if you want a light-hearted YA romantic comedy this is a solid bet.

I received an advance review copy of this book that I have chosen to review.

Wow. This book was adorable. I love all things geek culture and cons are one of my favorite things to attend. Also cosplay? Yes please. 
This was a refreshing take on Cinderella. The reason for Elle's step family treating her the way they did (though not justified) felt real. It's hard for families to merge, sometimes families just can't. Whether one side won't put in the effort, or it just doesn't work. It was nice to see an actual reason for the hatred and mistreatment, instead of just a blind hatred like in the Disney Cinderella. 

Darien? Swoonworthy. He had real world problems and seemed like a real person. It was also a nice reminder that actors are people, that they had lives before they were in the spotlight. I loved the split POV of this book and both voices were strong and needed. One didn't seem to carry the weight of the story. It was really cute to watch them react to each other and the switching of POV's was seamless. 

This is a must read for anyone who loves fairy tales or being a geek. 

Who needs fluffy Doctor Who Cinderella fan fiction?

I NEED FLUFFY DOCTOR WHO CINDERELLA FAN FICTION.

YES I DO YES I DO.

This book is GLORIOUS, people. The story follows a fangirl blogger and the incoming lead on a sci-fi serial in a You’ve Got Mail sort of situational romance. It has all of the traditional Cinderella elements we know, but modernized and nerdified.

HOORAY FOR DIVERSE CHARACTERS! One of the leads is POC, and there’s also LGBTQIA+ people. It is a Cinderella story, so there is emotional abuse, but that is to be expected.

I read Geekerella in a matter of hours. Once you start this, you won’t put it down. It’s just the right amount of fluff and substance. And if you’re part of the world of geekdom, you’ll find this instantly relatable. And who can resist the bright purple cover?

I’ve never felt so confused in my life. Everyone (and by this, I mean my bookish friends in and outside social media) is in love with this book. I’m feeling like a villain right now. Hmmmmm. After a debate with myself, I’ve come to share my unpopular opinion.

Danielle "Elle" Wittimer has known everything that needs to be known in the classic sci-fi movie series, Starfield. Almost all of her life, she binge-watch it with her dad, until he got caught in an unfortunate accident, leaving Elle with her stepmother, Catherine and stepsisters, Chloe and Calliope. Now, tired of being pushed around in her house, she decides to join a cosplay contest in ExcelsiCon, aiming to win a ticket to L.A. and leave Charleston for good.

Meet Darien Freeman, a once ordinary guy who takes pleasure in spending his time attending cons and fanboying over Starfield --well, until he became famous in a movie series, Seaside Cove and fans flock him when spotted. Now, he got casted as Carmindor, the leading character of his favourite series. But fans of the sci-fi movie does not appreciate this and sees him only as a guy trying to look cute for the camera and is ignorant of the movie itself. His reputation in the Starfield community dwindles even more when a certain blogger predicted how pathetic he will be as Carmindor. Huh.

I also love the title. It sounds so perfect that it makes one grab the book (like I did). In short, it's very attention-grabbing. Also, the book cover is a cute! It's one of the books that you would want to be in your shelf where it rightfully belongs, together with your other beautifully covered books.

I find the story was part cliche, part unique. Cliche because somewhere out there, I've heard this story before. It felt like a potpourri of the Cinderella movies I mentioned above. Also, I'm feeling a bit of a Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell vibe as well. Unique because there's the nerdy factor that I find adorable: the comic con, the fangirling, and especially the blogging. I mean come on, Surely I'm not the only one enjoying being a nerd/geek. For me, it was a moderately fun read. I repeat, FOR ME.

Although not a huge fan of the sci-fi genre, I'm torn between liking and disliking the Starfield movie's story. IF I were to watch the movie, I know for sure it's going to be heart-wrenching. However, through Elle's and/or Darien's narration, it was difficult to feel something for this movie.

If you're looking for a summer read, then Geekerella is the book for you! Plus points if your fave retelling is Cinderella and geek-related conversations, including Star Wars, Star Trek and other intergalactic movies. *wink-wink*

Loved loved loved it!!!! I absolutely loved this book! Im a huge fantasy lover so i was surprised at how much i loved this commentary one. im kicking myself for not picking this up sooner. this is the ultimate fangirl book! the character are very easy to relate to. I just love the relationship between them. If your any type of fangirl and like retelling you will love this book!!! as a " geek" myself i do wish elle was more confidence in herself. theres nothing wrong with being different and into geeky things. We're all geeks here! I absolutely loved the ending of the ball so much!

This book made major waves last year, and I avoided it because I was like “another Cinderella retelling?” But you know what? Today I was in the mood for another Cinderella retelling. And boy. I was charmed. I was delighted. I shed some tears. This was great. If you like Cinderella retelling (especially ones where the “prince” gets development too), if you like fandom, or, heck, if you like food trucks read this book. You will be charmed. And, like any good book about a fandom, I found myself wanting to be in the fandom in question.

Surely it’s time for another A Cinderella Story reboot, right? I nominate this.

I have always found books about cons and fandom intriguing. So of course I was going to read this asap.

I looooooved Elle. I love that she's struggling and smart and heartbroken and finds solace in fandom. There were so many relatable things here for me. Darien is uncertain and struggling in his own way and the relationship between them is perfection.

Yes, it follows the Cinderella story, but this is entirely unique. I thoroughly enjoyed how Ashley took those parts and made the story her own. This was a roller coaster of feels. I laughed and squee'd and gasped and fist pumped.

It is literally a love letter to fandom and my heart is so so so full.

**Huge thanks to Quirk Books and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**

LOVE!! This seriously became one of my favorite books!!! I am usually not a fan of retellings but this was great! It was a fangirl's paradise.... Romance, Fandoms, Cons, and so many fandom references!! We are big Con goers and my husband's uncle started a Con himself, so reading the story of her dad starting the Con in the book and his legacy hit the mark! I can't review too much because it will give away too many spoilers.

I would recommend this book to anyone that has ever felt passionate about fandoms or enjoy going to Cons, for anyone that has ever been made to feel weird or called names for being passionate about fandoms, or to anyone that would just enjoy reading a fun and quirky book.

I absolutely adored this book. It was a cute, mushy, throw your book on the floor and pick it up again type of read. My heart ached for Elle. With her being emotionally abused by her stepmother and stepsister, outcasted by her classmates, it just makes you aware of how others use things like her love of Starfield to cope and stay sane. This show is her anchor to not falling off of the deep end. While she saw herself as weak, I saw her inner strength shinning bright.

I found not only her actions to be realistic, but also Darien's. They weren't cookie cutter perfect- no matter how hard it was engraved into Darien's mentality- we as fans only really get to see the mask our favorite celebrities wear and forget they are human sometimes. So I was extremely satisfied to see Darien address this issue, because it's not something I remember all the time sadly. Because of their position, we hold them to a higher standard as if they are not still human being like us.

I loved the growth between Elle and Sage, that it wasn't just a wam bam, here's your best friend. They both had to work for the others friendships which made me love their relationship from the beginning and being ecstatic at the conclusion of the novel.

While I do like how the events fell into place, I do wish that Elle's blog was talked a bit more between her and Darien. I felt that it faded into background a little too quickly. That Dare let her off the hook once he began to see her in a new light. Throughout the story, this blog has been the thorn in his side for the entire production of the movie and then the spark he had against her fizzled out before I feel it should have.

All in all, I was smitten with these characters and the authors writing, and thanks to them, I'm going to dive into fighting the impossible more than ever. We all need to remember to look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.