Friday, April 7, 2017

#Review || Geekerella by Ashley Poston {Stepmonsters are Real}

Geekerella by Ashley Poston
Goodreads || Amazon
April 4, 2017 || Quirk Books
Book via publisher in
exchange for an honest
review

Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi 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’s 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’ll begin with saying that Cinderella is one of my favorite fairy tales ever: a prince, a girl whose dead mother is a tree, some badass birds who have an appetite for eyes. What is there not to love? Honestly. When I got the email from Quirk Books inquiring if I wanted a copy of this purple covered masterpiece, I said YES QUEEN COME TO ME MY ONE TRUE LOVE.

Or something along those lines. Hopefully I was a bit more professional than that.

This book is a freaking work of art. Elle and Darien are adorable: from blog posts, to hilarious/swoony texts, to the Big Reveal. They sort of grew together before they really ever saw the other’s face. When Darien gets the role in a movie with a cult following, he realizes just how in over his head he may be. A call made about a showing at a comic book convention, a few texts, a geek references galore later we have it: the ultimate ship.

Elle has the whole fairy tale sha-bang: gruesome stepmonster, evil stepsisters, a pumpkin, and her very own fairy godmother. Her father died not too long ago, and she’s stuck in her hell of a life. Literally, I was so frustrated with the stepmoster a few time that I was close to tears. Not unlike one other Cinderella retelling favorite of mine.

Darien is SO CUTE. Honestly, if I wasn’t head over heels for Elle, he’d be my favorite. After our resident fairy godmother- Sage- and cute beyond belief doggie. He’s a secret geek. I really enjoyed seeing him come into himself, take control of his life, and regain his family. Sounds kind of weird when you have no actual context to go off of, I know, but trust me on this. Both of these characters have to grow up, in different ways, but grow up all the same. Elle because the cards were so not on her side with the stepmonster, and Darien because he’s lost a lot, gained even more, and has to find some stable ground for himself to stand up on.

GEEKEREALLA is a coming of age fairytale retelling of sorts. And y’all know those are some of my favorites.

Some things to take note of that makes this book all the more amazing: Darien is POC—I’m relatively positive he’s Indian due to some commenting in the book—please correct me if I’m wrong. (also Mary came to the same conclusion) He and Elle share the perspective telling in the book, which I am just so here for. ALSO. Our fairy godmother needs her f/f story spin off where she’s just slaying and building a fashion empire.


Basically all the wonderful things. Please go get yourself a copy. You needed it yesterday. BUT IT’S OKAY. You can read it today. I’m sure there’s a cute bookshop a few blocks down that you can run to right quick. You’ll love it. And you should SO tweet at me when you finish it and we can swoon together. It’ll be grand.




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