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.

Note: Before anything - coming into Geekerella, I had my hesitations about diving into everything, and anything "geek" that I might either get (1) lost, (2) hate it, or not appreciate it. I am sure some readers who read the synopsis may feel the same way. I am here to clarify now - Yes, there will be a lot of geek slang, lingo, comments, assumptions, etc. but they are not far-fetched for a con-novice. The author made sure of this in references and hints. So what am I saying? Without a doubt, GIVE THIS BOOK A TRY! It is a unique take on the Cinderella story - Grimm's Aschenputtel version. The jargon has a mix of current and 80s/90s themes going. I love it, and it was not too much, which I appreciate. The story is told from both Elle and Darien's POV and gives a well-rounded approach. The writing is catchy and easy to relate to all the characters - the good, the bad, and the ugly. It feels like a romantic comedy with a dab of suspense and drama that will put readers on a roller coaster of emotions. The plot reminds me so much like Sliding Doors, You've Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle in the mix. If you can merge those and throw in young love and innocence, you've got Geekerella. I LOVE IT! Elle and Darien's chemistry sizzles in a cute, YA way that will have you all believe in penpals, blind dates, and finding connections in the unknown. Darien and Elle's stories move in parallel - Darien in his Hollywood world while Elle in Charleston, both worlds will converge at ExcelisCon. Elle, the female protagonist, does many things of her own free will versus climbing higher in society, unlike her stepmother and stepsisters. Ella is smart, emphatic, and sentimental to a fault. But, she is also strong and formidable even when "push comes to shove." She stood up for her friends and brought them all into a "family" that she thought she lost. They might not be related by blood, but they have each other's backs. Darien had to learn to stand up for himself at some point. The wake-up call came at a devastating time for him, but it did "snap" him out of the rut. He did well in defending Elle in so many scenes that even if things didn't immediately dawn on him that they have "a connection." His outward persona is NOT what Elle and the rest of the world know him to be. There are your expected wicked stepmother, stepsisters, and some unexpected villains in the end. The book has a great cast and made it all the worthy-read. The story is so gut-wrenching versus Disney or any other film story since each piece of Elle's father's things brought her into an emotional state - a state of loss that anyone could relate. All of the revelations come with the reality that Elle goes to ExcelisCon and does meet Darien. There is a lot of drama and gut-wrenching moments even before the convention. I love how the author unknowing draws readers into the world of Starfield, which made me take my time with this book. This book took me longer to read because I tried to savor as much. After all, it all put me "on edge" for the conflict. I also cried ugly/buckets that were no joke. The ending is HEA, but I appreciate how the author had it all done - complex, gritty, honest, and real. In summary, I highly recommend Geekerella (and series)! Pop culture of the 80s, 90s, and today readers will surely gobble this book up in an instant! Its ode to the classic tale will be a welcome addition to the book community wherein the author grabs new insight and shares this with the world. The book teaches us all about hope, dreams, and to be true to ourselves. Material things are nice to have, but they do not define us. We all need to find our "Princess Amara" and "Prince Carmindor" and shine as bright as the stars! I cried buckets, and I am sure that I will keep remembering this book for years to come! I am cheering for this series and congratulates the author on a beautiful and memorable start!

Elle and her father used to fan over the show Starfield. Her father even helped create ExcelsiCon, a convention for Starfield fans. After his death, the show helped Elle feel connected to her father. It was also an escape from her stepmother and stepsisters’ spiteful behaviors. When she finds out Starfield is being rebooted, things couldn’t be better. Until she finds out Darien Freeman is going to play Prince Carmindor. But despite her doubts, Elle is determined to go to ExcelsiCon this year and enter the Starfield Cosplay contest. Darien might be famous, but deep down he is a geek at heart. But the life of a celebrity doesn’t allow him to go to cons without paparazzi and fangirls tailing him. When he has the chance to play Prince Carmindor in the Starfield reboot, he couldn’t be happier. But the fandom doesn’t think he is fit for the role. As rumors and gossip surround him, he begins to doubt himself and who he has become. But then he is roped into going to ExcelsiCon by his manager. And while he doesn’t want to face the mass of teenage fans, he’s going to find something else worthwhile at the con. I felt for Elle. Every time she tried to get ahead, or choose her own path, her stepmother or stepsisters were in her way. Of course, this goes hand in hand with being a retelling of Cinderella. But it also showed how having a fandom to fall back on can keep a person motivated despite life’s hiccups. The Starfield fandom allowed Elle to share something with hundreds of others who understood her love for the show and helped her feel less alone. Darien’s story showed a different side to fandom that I never considered. And while the celebrity angle wasn’t as interesting for me, I still appreciated seeing the struggle someone who is a geek may have living in the spotlight. Similar to Elle, the Starfield fandom helped Darien overcome life’s barriers. Looking for a quick feel-good read that is filled with geekiness? Then Geekerella is the book for you! In this wonderful retelling of Cinderella, the princess is from the show Starfield, the magic pumpkin is a vegan food truck and the ball is the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball. This book spoke to my inner geek! I loved every cheesy line the characters dropped and relived the excitement of conventions through Elle’s eyes. I look forward to more geeky retellings from Ashley Poston.