Member Reviews

I believe writing a retelling of a popular story is tricky. I mean, most of the readers are probably already know the original story, so you have to writing something that's not that different from the original one, but still can surprise the readers. Sounds hard, right? Fortunately, I think, Ashley does a fantastic job in writing Geekerella. It's basically a retelling of Cinderella (lots of resemblance with the original story here), with a dash of fandoms, con, and fangirling in general. Eventhough I already read/watch Cinderella retelling many times, this book still manages to keep me up all night trying to finish it!

Our main character here is Elle Wittimer, who is a fangirl and obsessed with this TV show called Starfield. I relate so much with her--eventhough she like cosplaying and writing fanfiction and I didn't--in terms of feelings, wanting to go to cons but can't (in my case, there's no evil stepmother but there's distance and money instead), and also we both find it hard to open up to people. I feel like reading a book about me, more similar than when I read Fangirl. It's actually quite scary how similar it is. Beside Elle, there's also her kickass co-worker, Sage (who I assume is the fairy godmother here). Sage is freakin' awesome, with her unapologetically manner, and yet she's also caring toward Elle. I'm so glad Elle has Sage because Elle definitely need some love after years living with her stepmother and stepsisters.

I haven't talk about the love interest yet, so here we go *cue swooning*. Darien is a POC teen actor, but more than that, he's a fanboy. Just read this quote, when he met his costar, who is also his idol :

"Jessica Stone. The Jessica Stone. My costar. As in, indie film poster child, beloved by the internet for being sexy and cute and funny, sure to snag an Oscar one day Jessica Stone. I think I saw her last movie in theaters fifteen times, and not just because it was based on a graphic novel. Don't fanboy, I order myself. Don't fanboy."

I mean, how cute is that? There's a lot of fanboy moments beside that, and everytime I read them I always grin because it's so cute. The romance between him and Elle is also adorable, and (mostly) the reasons why I can't stop reading because I can't wait for these two to finally meet. And don't worry, there's no insta-love like the original Cinderella, because they get to know each other first through anonymous texts.

Overall, Geekerella is an adorable, fresh retelling of Cinderella that you don't want to miss! I really really recommend it to everyone.

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A Cinderella Story meets Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell but with a slow pace.Elle is not only a geek she is a geek royalty.There are a lot o references from fandoms like the Trekkies,we have a whole experience of a cosplay party instead of a ballroom dance.
But I think the Darien POV was a little slow because the story start before he plays the role of his life.

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This was really cute! I honestly didn't know what to expect of this and I was a bit hesitant because there are SO many Cinderella retellings out there already that it's hard to find one that brings something new to the table. But I found that this one did a good job of giving the story a fresh spin. I just wish there was a bit more to it than what I got.

What I Liked:

♦ I really liked all the fandom stuff. It makes it so relatable because I am part of several fandoms. Some are just amazing communities and I love that. And I love that this book got that feeling right.

♦ All the nerdy stuff. So much nerdy stuff and references and yay! It spoke to the nerd in me.

♦ I liked the spin on the original tale and how the author made it relavant to modern times. Very contemporary. I really enjoyed that.

♦ I liked Elle and Darien as main characters. They were both fleshed out and distinct enough and I liked their dynamics. They miiiight have been a tad stereotype-ish?? But it didn't bother me.

♦ The banter! I love the dialogue in this book. Such lovely sassy banter. Especially between Elle and Darien.

What I Didn't Like:

♦ Sometimes it just got a bit too... young? A bit overly dramatic and the stuff with the stepmother and stepsisters was a bit over it at times and I just didn't really feel it.

♦ Aside from Elle and Darien themselves, the other characters didn't seem very fleshed out at all. I wanted more from the stepsisters and stepmother and Elle's friend Sage. And Gail. Just more.

♦ I also don't think much was resolved by the end?? Could be just me. But there were some open threads at the end that left me wondering what happened with those things.

♦ It just didn't FEEL very special. I wish there had been more to it overall. It felt very standard at times, which is unfortunate.

Overall, despite my irks, I did enjoy this book. I just wanted more from it. But I do recommend it if you like light and cute contemporary.

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I absolutely loved this book! The cover was what initially caught my attention, but I stayed for the quirky, adorable characters (and of course the Cinderella retelling). AND all the wonderful geeky fandomness.

Although it is very true to the original fairytale, it is fresh and funny and kept me guessing. As a fangirl myself, it was really enjoyable to read about a relatable character who loved a show just as much as many of us do.

I would definitely recommend this to any fairy retelling lovers, fangirls, or anyone who likes a cute love story.

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This was so surprisingly delightful, and made me so unexpectedly emotional. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella, but this modern day retelling feels and was actually able to evoke quite the feelings from me. This is a heartwarming story and if you consider yourself nerdy whatsoever, don't let this book pass you by.

I obviously feel confident saying I'm a pretty geeky individual:
➽ Video Games? I've been raiding for over 10 years in World of Warcraft.
➽ Esports? League of Legends is my world, and I will not miss NA LCS or LCK for anything.
➽ D&D? Vox Machina is love, Vox Machina is life. #Critters
➽ Fandoms? You all know I have that covered. *Explains why Hermione and Draco should have been together*

I've embraced and been comfortable with my nerdiness for a while now, but it wasn't always so easy, and this book really struck a chord with me and what I felt like when I was seventeen years old and still unsure of who I was. This book truly felt like my coming of age story, and a book that would have meant everything to me if I would have picked it up when I was younger and needed it. For that alone I will always cherish this story and recommend this book.

Never be ashamed of who you are or what you love. Celebrate your passions loudly and unapologetically. Never settle and never listen to anyone who wants you to become something you're not. I promise you, there is someone out there who will love and accept you for who you are and will care about what you love. In the mean time, love yourself and embrace what you love.

“I’m the lost princess. I’m the villain of my story, and the hero. Part of my mom and part of my dad. I am a fact of the universe. The Possible and the Impossible. I am not no one.”

Okay, I promise I'll try to be less emotional. This adorable story starts out like any modern day Cinderella retelling would: with a girl grieving the loss of her father, while trying to put up with her evil stepmother, while dealing with her evil stepsisters. She feels alone and so isolated, while trying to keep the peace and do all the housework and chores for her unloving family. If only there was a way for her to escape.

Our Cinderella, Elle, escapes the only way she knows how: in the fandom of the beloved sci-fi show that she shared with her father, Starfield! Starfield is much like a mix of Star Trek and Star Wars, and it just so happens that the show is getting remade into a movie and Elle's favorite character is being played by the most unexpected of male leads. Oh, and Elle also runs a Starfield blog, where she voices her opinion of the casting choices.

Meanwhile, this male lead, Darien, is dealing with his own broken home, even though Hollywood makes everything appear perfect on the outside. Even though he's supposed to just be a teen heartthrob, he is secretly obsessed with Starfield and has dreamed of this leading role his whole life.

Then, due to a very strange set of events and miscommunication, our two protagonists start texting one another, while being completely unaware of whom they are actually communicating with.

“I hide the phone under my pillow. Because I’m not a princess. And this is the impossible universe, where nothing good ever happens.”

Throw in a cosplay ball, a food truck pumpkin, an amazing friend, and endless geeky references and you have yourself this amazing story wrapped up with helpful discussions and wonderful reminders to love yourself and know your worth.

There is also amazing lesbian representation in this book. The story doesn't shy away from it what so ever, and it is treated, as it should be treated, like normal. Again, this book is important, needed, and truly a shining light in 2017 publications.

This book was pure joy to read, and I connected with it on a very deep level. This story is truly a love letter to fandoms in general, and it warmed my heart to no end. I was laughing, crying, smiling, and absolutely loving this book from cover to cover. I am so happy a book like this is getting published, and I wish it all the success in the world.

“Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.”

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Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This is a super fun and really adorable book! I love the MCs, the fandom and the overall cuteness! Seriously. This book needs to be fangirl-ed over.

I received an arc to read and review.

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This book is pretty much the definition of adorable! I absolutely loved it, especially since it's about geeks. I would have loved to see more of the main characters' relationship

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Wonderful read with fantastic characters! I would like to commend Ms. Ashley Poston for this amazing novel! I really enjoyed it! It's nostalgic. I remembered how I started to become fan. Fanatics can definitely relate into this! I believe that once you learn about the fandom world, there's no way out. You'll always be a fan forever.

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This book just worked on so many levels. On the surface, and from the promos and summary you think it is just a modern retelling of Cinderella, but it is really more than that. It is about believing and trusting in your self, as well as others. It is about taking those risks that you wouldn't normally dream of taking, and about how family isn't always the people you are related too. I also like how it poked fun at fandom and the crazy but beautiful people those fans can be.

Danielle, also known as Elle, was a great character. She often presented herself to the world as the downtrodden stepsister of twins, Chloe and Calliope (yes that is really her name) and her evil stepmother Catherine. But she has an inner strength that I admire even when she gives in to her stepmothers demands and ignores (or tries to) her sister's horrible behavior towards her. She also writes a blog, just for her own amusement, although she does have a few followers. I felt that I could really relate to her.

I also liked Darien, he was a sweet geek that was thrust into stardom by his father. His fans cracked me up as well. I loved the fact that his dad, who is also his agent, had his abs insured. What a concept. Darien grew more than Elle in this story I think. It was nice to see part of the story from his perspective, he just wasn't the object of a fangirls obsession, but had doubts and issues of his own. I really felt how lonely he was and how accidentally texting someone and then starting a friendship with them through texts, where he could hide his true identity, was so sad and depressing. Being a teen superstar must be so lonely.

The twins were solid characters and so was the stepmother Catherine. I liked that one of the sisters wasn't quite as evil as Elle thought by the end of the book, and that she was able to shine a little at the end too. Catherine was an interesting character, although we didn't see her that much. I liked that the author included some motivation as to why she was so mean to Elle.

The fairy godmother role is played by Sage, a really scary girl on the surface, but in the end sweet and caring and endearing to all. I loved her food truck the Magic pumpkin, and how much she came to care for Elle and helped her out.

Overall, a really great read that was not only a fun retelling of Cinderella but an homage to fangirls and boys everywhere.

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This book was a very fun Cinderella retelling. I loved how things were changed to fit with the story they're trying to tell (contest instead of a ball, Cinderella meeting the Prince beforehand), I think it went very well. Yes, things got a little predictable (like with what happened to Elle's mum's dress) but the characters were fun and interesting. Plus another book which shows you can add diversity into a book without it being a huge big thing. Enjoyed it very much!

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Geekerella is a book I didn't know I needed until I finished it. The cast of characters were so great and I loved the romance build-up.

I really could relate to Elle's character and thought she had so much growth through out the story. Darien was the cutest and I wanted to bundle him up and cuddle him all day. I really felt for both of them and I loved their connection.

Elle is SO passionate about her favorite show and I love that it is something that reminds her of her dad. I lost mine at a young age, too, and I still hold tight to all of the memories and belongings that I have of him. I'm glad Elle had Sage as her best friend/fairy godmother to help her get through the worst of times and be there for her when she needed it.

There were SO many cute scenes and I'm honestly feeling a re-read here soon because it just made me so happy. This is definitely the book to read when you're feeling down and need a pick-me-up. Yes, it had some harsh scenes and characters but the over all story is worth it. Definitely a must read.

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It is funny timing was that I got this book just as I was gearing up to attend a Comic convention in my area. The plot of this book centers around Elle (Danielle) Wittmer, who is determined to enter a cosplay contest for the new Starfield movie at the local ExcelsiCon in memory of her father who died many years before. Elle and her father spent hours together watching Starfield, a show that they both loved so very much. Of course her stepmother disapproves, and her step-sisters are determined to win the same contest in order to launch their make-up vlog into viral stardom.
So I read this book, in which Elle gears up to attend ExcelsiCon as I was gearing up to attend Comicon and then read the details of the Con and aftermath after having attended my own Comicon. Serendipity.

You don't need to attend Comic or Fan conventions to love this book. It is a wonderful version of the classic Cinderella story brought into the modern world in a smart and believable way. Elle is a character that you can really champion and rally around. She faces her adversity in the role of Cinderella (Geekerella) with a great deal of determination. Hers is a story that anyone can identify with in one way or another, and it manages to have some real heart. You can feel how very much that Elle loved her father, and how much she misses him. There is no question that what Elle stands to lose is heart wrenching, much more so than in the original from which it is inspired.

I loved this story. It is the perfect fairy tale for those that let their geek flag fly.

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I absolutely love fairy tale reworkings, especially in the YA genre, and this one does not disappoint. A retelling of Cinderella, Geekerella reads like the Geek Girls Guide, with a true and complete understanding of the geek fandom lifestyle. Elle and Sage are the perfect team as they go on this adventure together, and the "evil" stepmom and twin stepsisters are fleshed out to not just be flat, mean people, but very nuanced in why they are the way they are. The love story between Elle and Darien builds beautifully and I loved how both characters fumble through it but ultimately prevail. The best part of the book however is how accurately Poston captures what these various fandoms mean to so many people. There were several times that my eyes filled with tears as Elle described how Starfield helps make her feel accepted and understood in the crazy world of being a teen girl.

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Loved the concept of the book! It was unique and refreshing and yet very timely. Thoroughly satisfying read!

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Geekerella is everything I could have asked for!! <3
It's an improved Cinderella and it's a gift for all of us who are obsessed with fictional worlds and characters; for all of us who have been called weirdos, nerds, or freaks; for all of us who haven been told that we were losing our time; for all of us who have received strange looks when talking about fandoms.
Enjoy it, because it's amazing!

In this book we meet Elle (our Cinderella), who is the biggest fan of this TV show called Starfield, writes fanfiction and blogs about it all the time. And, instead of going to a ball, she's super excited to go to a convention. On the other hand, there's Darien (our charming prince), a famous actor who plays the main character in a new Starfield movie, and he is much more than meet the eye.

There are some elements that remain true to the original story (i.e. the evil stepmother and stepsisters), but there are others that change. So, instead of a pumpking, we have a vegan food truck, and instead of a dress, we have cosplay. But my favourite thing is how Ashley Poston reimagines the fairy godmother and introduces Sage in her place. She is Elle's best friend, who will help her to love herself and stand up for what she deserves and believes in.

The story is very fun and I'm sure you'll love all the nerdy references. Moreover, there's a wide range of diverse characters who are really great, even though I'd like to get to know some of them better.

All in all, this is an amazing story about love, friendship, and fandoms, and I highly recommend it to fans of "All the feels" by Danika Stone or "Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell.

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This was a fun retelling of Cinderella. It was well written and my favorite part was the main character has an obsession with a tv show and finds other like her to help cope with the death of her father. Unfortunately, her step mother thinks it is a waste of time. This reminds me of my crazy obsession for Harry Potter. "It taught me a lot of things. Like about friendship and loyalty, and how to think critically and look for all sides of a narrative..." This can apply to any fandom out there. We can find people who share our passions and form long lasting friendships. This was a creative story. I mean, the "pumpkin" for this Cinderella story is a food truck! I highly recommend this believable retelling of a classic fairy tale.

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Geekerella by Ashley Poston was absolutely fantastic! It's a perfect 5/5 stars filled with fun characters, vegan food trucks, and cosplay contests--what more could you ask for! Geekerella is perfect for any fangirl or fanboy out there looking for a fun, contemporary read with a geeky twist.

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I am probably going to say it every time I read fairytale revamp that I really enjoy retold and re-imagined versions of stories we all know by heart and love.

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As you can guess Geekerella by Ashley Piston is one such tale and I’m sure you can guess the parent backbone. Here’s some clues:

A) nasty stepmother

B) icky twins

C) orphaned

D) a ball

Yup, you guessed it, Cinderella! Though not my all time favorite I do happen to like the tale.

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Danielle is our “princess” who was left to live with her selfish unreasonable stepmother after her sci fi loving dies in a car accident. Her love of Star field which she shared with her father will be her ticket out. After the announcement of a movie reboot of her beloved low key show she decides to return to the convention (con) her father founded when she was a little girl. She hasn’t been since he died but if she were to win the star field costume contest she could find her freedom away from her step family and maybe find somewhere to belong. Someone to love her.

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Darien Freeman is an actor that was cast as the reboot movie’s hero, our prince have you. The star gunners, fans of the star field show, think he is a terrible choice due to his vapid heart throb role on a soap opera. What people don’t understand is that he himself is a stargunner but his manager tries to keep it quite to make sure Darien’s heart throb status doesn’t get overshadowed by the geekdom. So in a way he is also a bit like our Cinderella.

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Even though you know how the story basically and how it ends Ashley Piston spun a story that was still entertaining and engaging. It was also pretty funny sometimes too.

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I give it an enthusiastic 4 of 5 stars!

So if you are into fairytale revamps I highly recommend Geekerella!

And remember my little booklings,

A dream is a wish your heart makes…

“Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite!”

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This novel was adorable. I devoured this Cinderella retelling in a day. I loved that it was about geeky things. Elle was extremely relateable and a well-written character. I recommend it for readers who like contemporary novels and for those who want to read a book that embraces fandom culture completely.

My full review can be found at [a cup of tea and an armful of books] at the the link below.

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