Geekerella: A Fangirl Fairy Tale

Sweet, funny and unmistakably loaded with pop culture, fandom references – this is the book for all those people who ever had a ‘moment’ on the release of a new book, movie or interview, or has spent hours creating a costume that is just right for those hours wandering a con. Elle has been a superfan of Starfield, a sci-fi show that she used to watch with her now deceased father. Taking the page and plotting arc straight from the Cinderella story, there has to be both a prince and a ball coming – and sure enough, Poston doesn’t disappoint. Elle is building her costume for the big party (read ExcelsiCon Cosplay ball) where she could meet the ‘teen heartthrob’ star now slated to play a lead character in the reboot. She’s determined to win - there is no other option in her world at the moment. Darien used to be just like Elle: geeking out on cosplay, following actors and authors and the Starfield show and dreaming of playing the lead character, Prince Carmindor. But, his life went in other directions and he’s now a famed teen heartthrob, and cast in the role – a role that thrills him and frustrates him because fans don’t think he’s got the ‘geek cred’ to play it. Truly a love letter to fandom of all types – there isn’t a person who’s experienced that tingle of excitement that won’t find some sort of connection to any number of the fans here. Even with the relationship between Elle and Darien – their bonding is more over their shared likes and excitement in their fandom than just a simple boy meets girl attraction – and their relationship is almost exactly what one would expect: a bit awkward in the more personal conversations, somewhat stilted ‘romance’ moments and a wonderful interest and comfort with their own particular knowledge of what they like (or don’t). The story isn’t all hearts and roses though: adults and secondary non-fan characters border the stereotypical and are often too close to the prototype of evil / despicable in the original Cinderella tale. But the pumpkin substitute (a food truck), the quiet affirmations to fandom and finding your next pop culture obsession is clearly present, and celebrated. A lovely and fun story that sends up solid confirmations and examples about following your own joy. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

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!

“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!