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Narrated by
Eileen Stevens & Tristan Morris
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Synopsis (via Goodreads): Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic science-fiction series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck and her dad's old costume, Elle's determined to win - unless her stepsisters get there first.
Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons - before he was famous. Now they're nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he has ever wanted, but Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake - until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise. But when she disappears at midnight, will he ever be able to find her again?
Part-romance, part-love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.
Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons - before he was famous. Now they're nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he has ever wanted, but Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake - until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise. But when she disappears at midnight, will he ever be able to find her again?
Part-romance, part-love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Also, the quote I used may have changed or been altered in some way, but I am quoting from what I received.“She wears life like Elvis wore sequins, with no apology laced into the seams.”
I just realized that Geekerella is going to be part of a series! This was an amazing Cinderella retelling with a clear ending, so I'm excited to see where the story will go from here.
First of all, the cover for this book is gorgeous! I feel like it encompasses all the best parts of the story. Secondly, I loved the main characters. Elle, Darien and Sage were incredible and I would love to be their friend! Thirdly, the author has created a world within a world. Starfield has a fandom just like Star Wars and Star Trek, and I wish it was something that existed in our reality and not just a fictional one. Ashley Poston really delivers a story you can believe in. Also, she references Firefly! I flarking love that show and was royally pissed when it was cancelled. #bringbackfirefly
I was pretty mad at Elle a few times. She would frequently view situations as hopeless or acted like her dreams weren't worth fighting for. Sage, Darien, Cal--everyone else was quick to come to her defense, but she took the abuse because she felt like she deserved it. I would cringe whenever her stepmother or Chloe would verbally attack her, but she was their punching bag and allowed herself to be pummeled. I really wanted Elle to fight back.
Despite Elle's inability to defend herself and what she believes in, I found this book to be incredibly enjoyable. I loved learning about Starfield while also watching Elle and Darien dance around each other for weeks. It was fun to know who they were to each other before they did, and I liked watching everything fall into place.
I feel like I should say more about this book, but I don't want to give too much away, so if you enjoy retellings, Cinderella, fanfiction, science fiction, cosplay, conventions, or just a fun story--this is definitely for you!
WARNING! If you listen to the audiobook, the narrators read with a southern drawl. This has resulted in my Texas twang making an unwanted appearance in casual conversation. I'll say something and it just slips out! Now I have to retrain my brain. 😱😭
WARNING! If you listen to the audiobook, the narrators read with a southern drawl. This has resulted in my Texas twang making an unwanted appearance in casual conversation. I'll say something and it just slips out! Now I have to retrain my brain. 😱😭
Despite so many rave reviews about this one, I've just never felt led to pick it up. I guess because I'm read less and less YA lately. But this really does sound like a lot of fun. And the fact that it deals with fandoms... how very meta. :) I had to laugh at the narrators triggering your own accent. LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm not always a fan of retellings, so I was hesitant to start this one! It wasn't until this popped up on NetGalley that I finally decided to read it. It has a new release date (May 15th), and I think a new cover. I'm not sure what else, or what the specific reasons were for having another release.
DeleteGeekerella was a lot of fun! I enjoyed the different fandoms, too. The author even throws in a Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and other random references.
THEY DID TRIGGER MY ACCENT. It's been really bad the last few days, but I think I'm starting to sound like myself again.
This really was a fun read. Glad you liked it so much!
ReplyDeleteI really liked it! It's definitely one I will be buying for my shelves (I only buy books I plan on re-reading a lot!)
DeleteThis sounds so cute! I like retellings, but other than Cinder, don't think I've come across a lot of Cinderella retellings.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Cinder! I recently read a romance called Cinderella and the Geek, but it was a three-star read for me. I feel like there was another Cinderella retelling, but I'm drawing a blank. Regardless, Geekerella was ADORABLE and I want to read it again!
DeleteI've heard really good things about this book and I'm glad you liked it!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was a very enjoyable book with a lot of quirky, fun content.
DeleteI really did like this one. I’m not sure why it wasn’t a favorite. I hadn’t thought about it but it was annoying watching Elle not stand up for herself.
ReplyDeleteElle's inability to defend herself is why I gave it four stars instead of five. I can understand her having issues at the beginning so we can see her struggle, but I thought her self-confidence would have improved by the end. She still allows her stepmother to say incredibly hurtful things about her and her father, but she just "fights back tears." I wanted her to FINALLY stand up for herself, call her stepsister on her shit, and own her life.
DeleteI loved this book. It was such a fun, modern twist. And yeah - it was really hard watching Elle get run over repeatedly like that.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
I wish she had defended herself at the end. The last confrontation she has when she misses her curfew? CHLOE LIED! It wasn't even a good lie. Elle should have just told the truth and let her stepmom look into it. I don't actually think it would have helped, but I thought the con would have given her more confidence in herself.
DeleteThis looks so cute!
ReplyDeleteIt is! It was such a fun book to read. :)
Deleteit souds fun and I always love retellings so I want it too!
ReplyDeleteIf you enjoy retellings, this is a great one!
DeleteLOL, ok I adore that quote, I need it on a shirt
ReplyDeleteI know, right? It would make an awesome shirt! There were a lot of good quotes in this book.
DeleteYay, I'm so glad you enjoyed this one too! Chloe was the absolute worst and I agree with your comment about no one calling her out on her lie. That was frustrating. Still a great read though and I'm curious about where it will go in a second book.
ReplyDeleteI really wanted someone to slap Chloe or put hair removal cream in her shampoo. She was vicious and cruel, and I'm not sure what Elle ever did to deserve that treatment. They were living in her parent's house, but still acted like she didn't belong there. Everything Chloe and her mom got away with was frustrating.
DeleteThis was a must-read for me for awhile but then I got into a reading slump and it fell through the cracks. Obviously it needs to become a priority again! I'm glad to hear this ties up nicely though, even if there will be a second book. Maybe it'll revolve around different characters?
ReplyDeleteYes! Make this a priority! It was so fun and enjoyable. I understand that some books just slip through when you're not paying attention, and that's how we get so behind, lol. I'm hoping the next book is from Sage or Cal's perspective. If it's Chloe... I probably won't read it.
DeleteI didn't either! It wasn't until I was copying the synopsis from Goodreads that I saw the series listed after the title. I'm hoping it's from Sage's perspective.
ReplyDeleteI liked that both stepsisters weren't monsters, but I also wish Cal had said/done more. Her silence was just as bad as Chloe's verbal abuse, because Elle never knew she felt differently. I think they could have had a meaningful relationship if Cal had just stopped following her sister around.
That sounds like a book that I might like and a new author for me.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to discover something new! If you're unsure, try your library first. <3
DeleteThis has been on my TBR for a while now, but your review defintiely pushed it back to the top of the list for me. It sounds adorable and just what I want so I'll be checking it out ASAP. Great review!
ReplyDeleteYay! You'll have to let me know what you think. :)
DeleteHowdy ya'll. I've always been pants at accents. I absolutely loved this one too Linds and read it last year sometime. Those stepsisters and her stepmother were horrid and up until that point I'd forgotten it was a loosely based Cinderella retelling. The text messages between Elle and Darren were so lovely, I really enjoyed getting to know both of them. I was hoping the sequel will focus on Sage, I adored her character but apparently it'll focus on Jess and Imogen? I'm assuming they're both new characters as I can't remember them from book one. So stoked you loved this Linds, absolutely beautiful review! ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteJess was Darien's co-star for the Starfield movie! Remember the tabloids brought up her girlfriend when she was fake-dating someone else (trying not to be spoilery, lol)? I'm assuming Imogen is that girlfriend, but we'll see!
DeleteI KNEW this was a Cinderella retelling when I went into it, but I still didn't notice the magic pumpkin reference until the end. It was there the ENTIRE time, but didn't click until Sage needed to get her home.
Loved their texts! They were so open with each other despite not knowing anything about who they were talking to. It could seem weird, but I ignored the "it just feels like I'm talking to a girl" part. I did a little eye-roll and moved on.
SO. I haven't stopped by your blog before, I don't think? But, man...you are so awesome. That awesomeness is reflected in your blog, clearly. Okay. So, I haven't read this book but I have seen it around. I have never been to a con, and I am kind of timid around crowds, so it's hard for me to connect with books related to cons. I like that the fandom presented in this book felt real. I remember feeling this way with Rainbow Rowell's 'Fangirl.' It's nice when an author captures that spirit of something so important and precious as fandom. So, what kinds of fandoms do you like?
ReplyDeleteThe only convention I've gone to is BEA (BookExpo America), and I loved it! I was able to meet a lot of my blogger friends in person. We'd go out after the convention and just hang out. You also get to meet a lot of authors, which is always fun.
DeleteI'm not really involved with any fandoms... I like certain things, like LOTR and Harry Potter, but I don't follow blogs about them or participate in groups. The closest thing to a fandom would be comics. My husband and I are Marvel people, and we would like to go to a comic book convention in the future! I know he'd like it if I participated in the cosplay. I think he has a thing for Rogue. ;)
Also, YOU'RE SO SWEET. I'm really happy you stopped by! I thought you commented once before, but I can't remember... *tackle hug*
DeleteI've honestly heard nothing but positive things about this book! I've read the author's other book, Heart of Iron, and while I enjoyed it, I wasn't blown away. But I'll definitely be continuing the series! And I do like the sound of this one, and the way it has a focus on fandom. I love that more YA books are focussing on that because it does play such a huge part in the lives of so many teens today! So yay for that :) And thanks for mentioning the abuse storyline - I don't think anyone's mentioned that before, which is a bit worrying :/ I hope you enjoy the other books in the series!
ReplyDeleteWow, so no one else has mentioned it? It's such a huge part of the story, and it plays a big part in how Elle views herself. She doesn't think she is loved, she feels alone, and all she has ever wanted is for her stepmother to be proud of what she's done. It was awful to read about, and I wish someone had been there to support her throughout her life. Sage was a blessing, and one that Elle didn't expect. She also didn't know what to do with that friendship, because the idea was so foreign to her.
DeleteI didn't know the author had written something else! I'm sorry you weren't blown away by Heart of Iron, but it sounds enjoyable--especially if you still want to continue the series.
Yes! Fandoms are everywhere and play a huge role in our culture. A lot of people are unaware they exist, but it's a great place to find like-minded people you can have fun with. BookExpo America is a convention for bookish people, but I bet most people that go don't realize they're in a "fandom."
I love the cover for this one. Glad you liked it! :)
ReplyDeleteMe too! I believe there are two versions... one with Sage and Elle, and one with Elle and Darien. However, I prefer the Sage/Elle cover because Frank the Tank is there, too!
DeleteThis was one of my fave books last year. So adorably cute, and I liked the way the author spun the Cinderella story in this one. I am really excited about the sequel.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't feel like a Cinderella retelling, but all the big pieces were there. The author just told it in a way that made it her own, but with ties to the original story. I think that's why I like Cinder so much, too. Actually, ALL of The Lunar Chronicles, lol.
DeleteI didn't know there was going to be a sequel but I really liked this book - so cute!
ReplyDeleteJen Ryland Reviews
I didn't realize there was going to be a sequel until I wrote this review! I was hoping it would be from Sage's perspective, but I think someone mentioned Jess.
DeleteThis definitely sounds like a SUPER fun read. I adore cutesy contemporaries so much! ♥ That being said, pushover characters irk the heck out of me, probably because I can't relate at all. D:
ReplyDelete- Aimee @ Aimee, Always
Hard same. In my head I'm yelling at her to fight back and stand up for herself. It's not in me to just be quiet and let someone make me feel bad for no reason. AND IF YOU TALK ABOUT MY FAMILY I HULK OUT, so I didn't understand her reluctance to defend her family/friends. Despite that aspect of her personality, it was a fun story!
DeleteWait, this is going to be part of a series?! I had no idea! I loved Geekerella, so I look forward to seeing how it will go from here.
ReplyDeleteIt is! I was surprised, too. I always use Goodreads for the synopsis, and the title had a series listed after it. I had to do a little digging, but yes! I can't wait to see where the author takes the story since this one was a Cinderella retelling. Is she just going to continue with the characters and their story, or do what Marissa Meyer did and have a different retelling each book?
Delete