un and very nerdy YA contemporary (lots of D+D) that tackles fandom, online harassment, and a bit of genderbending. Liked it but didn’t love it.

I loved the premise of this but it fell flat in execution. It wasn't particularly funny or charming, and I had a big problem with this idea of outing people and dressing up as a guy so thoroughly that people think you are in fact a guy, when the main character isn't trans. She's just doing it so she can be "one of the guys."

It's also extremely hard to believe she was able to find all those cosplay supplies in such a small town.

This is a fun book with a strong feminist theme and lgbtq representation. Bullying is handled in a deft way along with the many forms it can take. A good YA book with an important message.

I LOVED this book
This is perfect for any and every geek, lovers of D&D and cosplay. You get the girl masquerading as a boy trope too which i always love.

When I saw that the author of You're Welcome Universe was coming out with a new book I was excited to read it. I loved her debut and this one sounded super cute. And while this was cute and fast read it didn't quite blow me away.

I will say that this was definitely a cute contemporary. I don't read a ton of contemporaries but I like when they are more on the fun and light-hearted side of things. This book did a good job in balancing the more serious issues and themes with some funny and some sweet moments. The romance was pretty cute as well and it briefly thawed my cold dead heart. I think if you are a bigger fan of contemporaries you will like this way more than a casual like myself.

Speaking of casuals, or well people being called casuals, probably my favorite things about this book was the geek culture angle. I love books about nerdy characters especially if the plot of the book deals with anything geeky and this book definitely did just that. Not only was there cosplay but also Dungeons and Dragons. Plus it explored some of the less savory parts of this like what it is like to be a girl geek and online harassment.

The geek culture of course extended to the characters. This is a book full of geeks and nerds. I always relate so much to nerdy characters for obvious reasons. Cameron is fun and feisty. She's having a bit of a tough time but she has a lot of inner strength which made me appreciate her even more. There could have been a little bit more character development but as a protagonist Cameron was likable. The secondary characters were similar but not as complex as I would have hoped. Her brother Cooper was interesting enough but wasn't as involved as much as I would have liked, Brody was definitely complex but he really could have overcome his jerk tendencies a little more. As for the romantic lead, Lincoln, I did like him but like a lot of the other characters he just didn't get as much development as I would have liked. I think a little more time on character development would have made this book a little more enjoyable for me.

But the thing I would have definitely like more of was in regards to this book is the plot. My main issue here is just with the plot development. It didn’t really feel fully-formed. It moved from moment to moment in a deliberate pace and had a climax that had me engaged, but none of the main beats really hit in a significant way. Most of the time it would just move on, which didn’t really allow for any weight behind it. It was interesting it just felt like it was a little rushed and there could have been much more. It made for a really fast read which I appreciated but it also made for a basic read which I didn't appreciate. I'm such a plot driven reader that I really wanted a more complex plot.

All in all though a cute and fun contemporary. It was definitely basic and on the younger end of YA but it was a decent read and I enjoyed it.

3.5 stars - But a high 3.5 stars, like could be 3.75 stars but I only do half stars so it will have to be 3.5 stars

*I received an eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This was a quick, fun little read where the main character deals with making friends in a new town while also dealing with being cyber bullied due to the gatekeeping and general sexism that can be prevalent in the "geek/nerd community" (I don't know a better way to phrase this). I really enjoyed my time reading this. I thought the writing was well done especially concerning Cam's sewing and I thought all the descriptions of the sewing itself and how Cam felt about it really caused me to become more embedded into the story.

I really liked reading about her playing dungeons and dragons and watching her try to fit into her new town through it. I also really loved the inclusion of the little comic strips when they were playing DnD! They were so fun and now I want to look for my own DnD group.

I thought all the side characters were well done and diverse (except for Brody, but we'll get to that). I really liked Cam and Cooper's (Gay) sibling relationship and their whole family dynamic. I also really liked how it mentions that their parents are older. I thought Lincoln as a love interest was great, and I just really liked Wyatt (Black and Gay).

I had 2 minor dislikes which brought down the star rating for me:
1. When it came to Cam being bullied, sometimes the bullying could get a little "mustache twirling villain" where it just didn't feel as realistic, specifically when it came to Brody. Almost Every Single Thing he says is somehow sexist or an example of something shitty I've seen in a tumblr post. Just everything out of his mouth, he never says anything good or even decent (that I can recall).
2. I just really hate how Cam hid the bullying from everyone. It gets on my nerves when characters say "you don't understand" and make absolutely no attempt to help the other person understand.

Overall I did enjoy this and the good far outweighed the bad. I would definitely recommend this for the nerdy teen in your life.

When I came across the synopsis for Chaotic Good by Whitney Gardener, I was most intrigued by the nerd culture and the girl undercover plotline. Finding two of my favorite story elements combined in one novel is always a total score!

This story does try hard to be a fangirl/geek fantasy. Cosplay outfits are created. Several games of Dungeons & Dragons are played, and there are even some comic drawings to go with them.

I appreciate the messages that are communicated through the story as well. The protagonist Cameron can wear pretty skirts but also be a fan of "guy" comics. When she reaches a level of relevancy online for the costumes she makes, she is criticized for not being a true fan of what she cosplays, shining a light on how intentionally or unintentionally cruel people can be about such silly things. The reason that prompts her to dress up as a guy in the first place is because a comic book store employee has certain expectations of her comic book taste as a girl.

However, I must admit that I personally could not relate or sympathize with Cameron. The story didn't vibe with me. Cameron is a bit of a Debby Downer, and her relationships with several people are rocky.

I will say that I love her relationship with Dotty, who acts as her mentor. I believe that everyone meets someone who helps them realize something about themselves at least once in life, and they're a great example of that. In addition, Dotty's character feels developed and dynamic. She's lovable but also super cool. She once made costumes for Broadway! She's the type of lady I aspire to be when I grow up, the type who sets kiddos up and dishes out heartfelt advice.

Cameron has preconceptions about people, and I didn't think she would ever come to realize that. She doesn't grow throughout the entire book, but she does eventually realize her mistake. It's growth nevertheless, and other characters grow along with her.

Although it wasn't the fun and lively book I had hoped it would be, Chaotic Good does hold some merit. It touches on topics relevant to society.  This is a 2.5-star book for me, but this is a great read for those who enjoy more pensive reads.

Female geek girls will appreciate Cameron Birch, a cosplaying, fashion designer who gets tired of being judged “fake” for her love of comic book characters and their extraordinary costumes and the idiotic mansplaining of the guy at the comic book shop. With a deadline to create original costumes for her college application to CalArts looming and the help of her father, a former D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) player, she has a way to make her characters, but she can’t face the comic book shop D&D players without the armor of dressing up…as a boy.

This book was had me on a roller coaster of emotions. I definitely could relate to Cam, and I loved her passion for her art and the descriptive way Gardner wrote about it. This is definitely a book I think would resonate with any girl that liked geeky things, and it could be eye-opening for guys to understand just how difficult it is to deal with the constant attacks and questions as a girl that just wants to get into something cool.

The characters were very real and dimensional. I loved Cam’s brother Cooper and the way he supported her and also was torn about helping her keep perpetuating a lie. I loved Why and his sunshine attitude and just rooted for him to find what he was looking for. Ultimately, Chaotic Good dealt with the issues of online bullying and creating safe spaces for girls in what are considered “masculine dominated” places and fandoms really well. The one thing I had issues with was the random comics that sometimes then skipped to a different time/place in the story without any warning. This might just be an issue in the uncorrected e-proof though.

I definitely recommend this to fans of Geekerella or if you like the Adventure Zone podcast, you’ll probably enjoy it too.

I love a good cosplay story with a gender disguise element. Entertaining, cute, feminist and fun. Recommended reading for nerds and geeks galore!

Things I liked about CHAOTIC GOOD: diversity, comics, D&D - even though I know nothing about how to play since I've never played. Some of my favorite scenes were while the group of friends were at the comic shop D&D. Speaking of characters... Link and Why were my two favorites.

Things I didn't like about CHAOTIC GOOD: The beginning held loads of promise and the ending was cute and sweet. Not sure what happened in-between. My annoyance with the middle parts came from Cameron pretense of being a boy going on far too long, Cooper (Cam's twin brother) at first seemed cool, but turned jerk without any real reason, imho. One of the real disconnects for me was the whole blog and cyber bullying. If I am to believe that Cam and Coop are super close, (stereotypical twin thing) then how the heck is he clueless as to his sister's blog and what happening there?



*Potential spoilers because I'm not sure where my thoughts are going and I'll likely not edit.*

What was going on with Cam is complete crap. Its frustrating and infuriating. Reading about it was hard because even though CHAOTIC GOOD is fiction, we all know this type of harassment is real. I wish there was more accountability, a little due justice, in regards to the "anons" and "randos". Afterall, Cam is a minor. When all this came to light: with her phone number/address being published (even though it was a former address), being sent d*ck pictures, threats, & "go kill yourself" comments... no one... not even her parents did anything?! They gave her a list of websites for her to make sure her personal info wasn't available. Huh? That was a head scratcher. Unsatisfied with the outcome and the a missed opportunity.

As someone interested in sewing, costuming, and other nerdy things, this book really spoke to the social awkwardness that makes it hard to find new friends. I've had experiences very similar to the main character in local comic stores. While there were people who were perfectly accommodating, I was also thoroughly ignored for a while by most of the staff when trying to check out.

Importantly: I loved that there were moments when Cameron (as a guy) tried to avoid standing out by going along with some of the less-than-stellar behavior of Brody. She showed how easy it is to be complicit in bullying and cruelty, just because it saves you from confrontation.

Overall, sweet and fun book that we're definitely going to purchase at my library.

3.5 stars. A really fun, cute story, with some great twists along the way. Also, that cover is ADORABLE.

Things I really enjoyed:
-- Cameron's character voice. She sounded like some of my most charismatic friends in that effortlessly casual, hilarious way.
-- Cameron's sewing. My favorite parts of the book were when we got to be with Cameron in her studio. Reading about a character sewing could easily be boring, but with Cameron it was the most magical space in the book. I loved that.
-- The twins' relationship, with its familiar ease and its rocky moments. And that they didn't swoop in to solve each others' problems, but each character got to dig themselves out of their own personal mess.
-- The portrayal of harassment and the way it infiltrates everything around Cameron. I think this could have been developed even a little more, but it worked in the book as effective motivation for Cameron to put herself in a rather convoluted position.
-- The various adults. I always get excited when there's a YA with adults who love each other (Cameron's parents) and who are just as interesting as the teens (Dotty).
-- The unexpected turn when she displays her costumes at the end. I really appreciated that she didn't get her ending easily.

Things I'm a little iffy on:
-- The middle? In general? During the middle, I just found myself starting to get a little annoyed with everyone.
-- The love triangles got a little bit old.
-- Most of the book, I felt like Cameron wasn't just being used to teach the characters around her a lesson, and I appreciated that. But there were times, especially in the latter half, where I felt like her role was to just teach the other characters (and some readers) a lesson, to the applause of many readers. This could just be a personal preference thing--I might just not be gung-ho feminist enough to get fully swept into the narrative--but there were a few places where I felt the author missed chances to push Cameron harder by having her actually be wrong about some things. I felt like the narrative justified her whenever she was wrong (and faced one consequence or the other) and her basic assumptions about the way the world (and fandom) works at the beginning of the book were the same as at the end of the book. But, again... this is probably a matter of personal taste.
[-- One of those instances being when she tells Lincoln about her blog and the harassment, and he responds something like, "What did you expect?" And she gets onto him about how he wouldn't expect to get harassed on his own personal, not-that-updated blog. I felt like the core of the point she made was valid, but also there are so many variables beyond just gender that influence the differences in their situations. If he was exactly the same as her, with a blog going viral over controversy, he would get a lot of backlash, too--not dick pics and rape/death threats, but the blog would still elicit over the top negative reactions. She assumes Lincoln means, "What did you expect [since you're a girl posting cosplay]?" and shames him. The discussion would be more interesting, I think, if Lincoln was allowed to mean, "What did you expect [since you run a blog going viral/since your blog centers around something that's controversial right now]?" IDK. I could just be nitpicking. (hide spoiler)]
-- Similar to the note above, I liked that in the first third of the book (or so) the character Brody (our token douche guy) showed signs of challenging Cameron's prejudices (she admits that he thinks he's being helpful, etc). And I liked that he never went full stereotypical, nonredeemable jerk. But I again felt there was a missed opportunity to explore what creates people like Brody (since obviously it's not just inherently a male quality, as Why and Lincoln and others in the book show). Perhaps that's just because I prefer antagonists who have more layers, but maybe the author didn't want to humanize to the Brody hoard too much. [I did find it out of the blue and a bit ridiculous that Brody shows up in his (female) D and D character's costume at the end. It was so wildly out of character for him, and the only reason I can think he did it was as a sort of apology to Cameron, but it's so glossed over in the rush to get to the last page that it just ends up feeling forced for giggles. (hide spoiler)]

Those are my thoughts, for what they're worth! There was a lot to love in the book, and I can see it jiving well with a lot of my nerdy, con-attending friends.

(I received a free copy in exchange for a review. Thanks, Netgalley!)

With nerd culture finally legitimized, it's time to take things a step further. Its time to take a harder look at the culture, to point out it's flaws. Nerds can be very harsh, especially to those perceived as posers and noobs. Anyone who doesn't like the thing we like the way we like it is inherently wrong. And many nerds are especially hard on girls. And Gardner takes us deep into the dark side of the nerd world, pointing out cruelty in abundance. We see sexism, cyber-bullying, and doxing. She also uses D&D as a metaphor for character's fears and failings. The lot is overly predictable. It wraps up neatly. Normally that level of predictability would be annoying but in this case its acceptable because the characters are so likeable. Not terribly complex but certainly likeable.

I read Whitney Gardner's debut earlier this year and really enjoyed it, so I had high hopes for this one. This was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it allllmost as much as You're Welcome, Universe, but I did want a little bit more from the story. This has a pretty abrupt ending (for me) and I wanted a little bit more from the brother before the ending. Saying that, I had a really good time reading this and it was such an easy read as well - I started it and finished it in one sitting. I really loved the friendships that develop through this book and it definitely increased my want to play D&D one day. Ultimately, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it, I just wanted a tiny bit more from the ending.

I do also have to say - this has a girl dressing as a boy but it doesn't (to my recollection) discuss the gender binary or have any trans characters.

CW: bullying including cyber bullying, doxing

Ever since I read Whitney Gardner's book You're Welcome, Universe, I've been a fan of her writing because the style is comforting. It's an easy one to pick up and put down, like a well worn shirt or blanket you can pull on when you're in need of comfort and just want to relax.

Her newest book embraces geek culture and follows main character's journey through it, a journey that it a lot of fun, but also touches on the darker side of the Internet and the anonymity it lends to cruel people.

There are moments in the book that were uncomfortable to read, including Atomix Comix worker Brody's anti-female rhetoric and the troll emails that Cameron receives online, including but not limited to death threats. Those emails, comments, blog notes, and moments at Atomix Comix when when no one stood up to Brody made for a tense atmosphere that had the hairs on the back of my neck up, even from the comfort of my couch.

There are also amazing times to be found. The geektastic moments range from ones that even a casual fan will get, such as Dungeons and Dragons campaigns and Final Fantasy name drops, to more subtle references such as a podcast warning townspeople not to visit the local dog park (Welcome to Night Vale fans represent!).  There was also some multi generational bonding over D&D with Cameron's dad and his friends for a scene that I liked. 

This was a fairly short book so while the writing was a style that I like and the pacing was good, it still felt like something was missing. Things happened, things were resolved, but almost a little too easily. Cameron's difficulties with the online trolls and the information that they leaked gets moved on from with relative ease. The person who leaked her phone number initially is never revealed as far as I could tell, though I could make some guesses. There's also the nature of Cameron's dressing as a boy and how gender is portrayed as a strictly boy/girl. I think there's more that could have been done with this part of the story, especially considering the feelings that Cameron goes through toward the end when the big reveals are starting to happen.

If you're a fan of geek culture, want to get a look of interspersed pages of Whitney's comic book style art, or want to find a new author good for a chill read, pick up Chaotic Good. You may consider picking up your own d20 by the last page.

I was provided this eARC in exchange for a fair review.
This was a delightful and satisfying read that made my girl geek heart happy! I loved how this addressed the issue that so many girl geeks face; ridicule and animosity for daring to love a “boys” subject. The author told this tale wonderfully and you find yourself so attached to Cam as she deals with the reality of her world. I would suggest this for anyone who loves games, gaming, comics, and cosplay.

3.75 - 4 Stars - I recommend if you enjoy quirky YA contemporary novels, or the female perspective within "nerd culture".

This story follows Cam a cosplay genius. She makes her own costumes, blogs, takes them to cons, etc. But when she moves from Portland to Eugene, she finds herself unable to go into the comic shop without the owner's nephew mansplaining during her entire visit. Naturally, to visit the shop and avoid the awkwardness, she cosplays as a boy. When the guys at the shop ask the guy version of her to play D&D with them, she thinks this is just what she needs to finish her portfolio for costume design school... however, it might jeopardize brand new friendships along the way.

This book was a lot of fun to read. It reminded me a little bit of Fan Girl. It definitely had that nerdy, coming of age feel to it. However, the D&D bits were woven in a bit more directly, and a bit more subtle than the fan fic in Fan Girl. I loved that this was also a critique of what it is like to be a female who is interested in things withing nerd culture, it can be hard. While I haven't dealt with a lot of these issues first hand, I have lots of friends who have. I appreciated it being addressed here. I loved Cam's character. It was so fun to read about her nerdy and creative pursuits, it makes me wish that I could sew! hehe I loved Dot, I loved Cam's family, I honestly could have done with a little more of the family dynamics within the novel as well. Dot and Lincoln were the cutest, and I'd have loved to know more about them! Overall I think this book is a little bit niche, but is definitely accessible if you are interested in it. My knowledge of D&D and Cosplay are fairly low, and I didn't have any issues with it. I really liked the illustrations thrown in here and there. I think it would have been neat to see sketches of her costumes as well!

Warnings: cyber-bullying, mention of doxxing

Chaotic Good calls out the sexism in geek culture, where girls are not given spaces or seen as fake. Cameron loves designing clothes, especially for cosplays, and her dream is to be in CalTech and work for costuming. In a new place, she starts to encounter sexism all over again when she is seen as a fake fan at a comic book store, and to teach the guy a lesson, she dresses up as a boy. But soon, her fake persona feels more comfortable to move around in the geek world, and she keeps the ruse up. But she soon has to realize that discarding your femininity is not a way to counter sexism.

Cameron's character is a determined young woman who knows what she wants in life. While she isn't very deeply into the comic books or games as an consumer fan, she is very invested as a creator of artwork - she designs costumes for both personal and professional use. At a convention, a comment made by her led to incessant online bullying and even doxxing as the book progresses - but she keeps it all to herself. She doesn't even tell her twin brother because she thinks her problems are little compared to him having to navigate as gay in a not-so-progressive town.

Now, there are a couple things I had regarding the concept that I would like to get out of the way - yes, cross-dressing books have been around, but this is the first that I have read in contemporary fiction, I think. And so I expected some acknowledgement of transgender/non-binary people having similar troubles (which is worse for them because they ARE dressing for their gender, while she is wearing it only as a 'costume'). Actually, even fantasy books should acknowledge this, but that's a discussion for another day. Secondly, I don't see why Cooper (her twin brother) was pressuring her to talk to Why about her being a girl as necessary for him to ask him out, when those events are unrelated. Also, the way it is revealed was so lazy and predictable, I saw it coming a mile away.

Moving on to the good parts of the book - it encapsulates her frustration pretty well. There is the bullying she is facing online, the everyday sexism she faces as a girl, and then the hidden sexism she sees when she is dressed as a boy, when Brody acts like a Typical Dudebro and even the other guys who seem decent otherwise don't call him out on it. All of it just drives her to be focused on her work, her presentation for the CalTech interview and to take a break from being a girl by dressing up as a boy. The prose of the book carries the story over the summer, as she and her brother get involved in the comic store guys' D&D games, and run a campaign together (is that what it is called? I am not in D&D). It challenges the idea that a girl should downplay her femininity to be taken seriously, whether it is as a fan, or in a professional scenario (let's just say the interviewer was terrible), and advocates embracing your interests, and not playing to what others perceive of you.

The novel is also running the storyline of the campaign, through comic panels that show how their fantasy story is going on. The art on that is pretty basic, but it is rendered well, and blends wonderfully with the prose. The romance is cute, and Lincoln is a pretty good love interest. Cooper and Why's storyline is also good, but it is mostly in the margins. I love the sibling relationship between Cameron and Cooper as well, and how they respond to the other's troubles. Overall, an adorable coming-of-age novel that hits on key points in geek culture, while also being serious about its dark parts.

Man, this book hooked me from start to finish, and never let me go. I saw another blogger review this book, and I thought it was so very "me". So I requested it on Netgalley not really thinking they would give it to me, but I was granted it last week and I ate it up! I absolutely loved this book. It's the kind of book that I wish I didn't read, because I just want to re-experience what it was like to read this book the first time around again.

This book is about an awesomely creative girl named Cam that is really into Cosplay. Cam is incredibly talented, but because she's not necessarily into the medium that she makes her costumes from she's getting a lot of hate online from a bunch of knuckle-dragging douche-canoes that think she is a "fake geek girl." I hate this phrase so much! It makes me so mad! Gate-keeping is wack! After having a bad experience at her local comic book store because she is girl, she starts dressing as a guy to see if she's treated differently, which she is, and she ends up entangled in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign with the boys thinking she is one of them! It's all the right type of shenanigans I want from a book. It also really made me want to play D & D!

This book discusses a lot about what girls deal with when they like anything to do with geek culture. I honestly think the hostility and gatekeeping that happens in these tribes is probably why some girls just walk away from it. I don't think anyone has a right to tell someone what they like is wrong, or how they consume something is wrong. In the beginning of the novel Cam basically is given the "girl geek quiz" which is complete bullshit! I personally think a lot of these attitudes are changing, but there are definitely people in male-dominated circles that think girls need to "prove" that they are "worthy" of liking a thing.

Cam's creativity and all the insanely hard work she puts into making her costumes was so interesting to read about. I am 100% not that talented. Like I don't think my writing is as talented as Cam's costume-making. I have some mad love for cosplayers and what they do. They are putting their blood, sweat, and tears into their costumes and they deserve all the credit. Cam is definitely a character that has ambitions, but I also like that we see her very human flaws. She never asks for help when she needs it, and she doesn't exactly know where she is supposed to fit. I think it's something that as a teen I always felt, still do at times, so I could really relate to her plight. Thankfully, I have never gone through internet harassment like she does, but I know that for a lot of kids that have grown up in the digital age this is a common issue they face. I had a cousin that went through an extreme amount of cyberbully when AIM was a new thing, and I think it's the reason she's not really on any social media at all!

I do have one bone to pick about this novel---THAT ENDING! What! It can't leave me with a cliffhanger like that! But also at the same time, I do really like that Gardner lets us decide for ourselves what the outcome is.

This book was so good, if you loved Ashley Poston's Geekerella I think you would also really enjoy this book. The cover is amazing and absolutely perfect for this novel. Not sure who designed it or came up with the concept art, but I think they knocked it out of the park! Get your hands on this book now!


*I received a free egalley copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Happy Reads Everyone!