I loved this story! it's such a fun twist on the Cinderella story. I enjoyed Elle with her hopes and dreams and fandom of Starfield.. I enjoyed Sage who doesn't really give a crap and helps Elle like a fairy godmother and I liked Darien Freeman who you kind of wonder if some child stars or any celebrities have issues like he does. I thought this was a lot of fun to read and if I had read it on the weekend I probably would have read it in a day. It's a very fast read but entertaining. Not a deep book but who cares, I like being entertained. I will say talking to a stranger over text messaging is a little creepy and you don't know who is on the other side. It could be a sex offender. This book just made me smile but it also made me tear up in a few places. I had such a great time reading it.

A modern-day geeky fairy tale, mashing up the classic tale of Cinderella with the world of Science Fiction fandom. On one side we have Elle, a life-long fan of Starfield, the Star Trek-esq TV show she grew up watching with her father. On the other side is Darien, teen heart-throb slated to play the leading role of Federation Prince Carmindor in the pending series reboot, closet nerd and written off as little more than brainless eye candy by the fandom. In between the two lie conniving step-family, a job on the Magic Pumpkin food truck, the internet, and the deep seated passion of fandom.

This book is absolutely adorable. I sat down and read it in a day. A must-read for fans of Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl or Jen Wilde's Queens of Geek.

A fun and adorable read, and if you're geeky and looking for something short and sweet this is perfect.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston
Publisher: Quirk Books

Elle is a huge fan of Starfield, the sci-fi show she and her father used to obsessively watch together before he died. Stuck with Catherine, her stepmother, and Chloe and Calliope, her evil twin stepsisters, Elle truly lives like a modern-day Cinderella. The only solace she has are late-night reruns of Starfield and her Starfield-themed blog Rebelgunner. A Starfield reboot is announced and Elle is thrilled until she hears about the casting of Darien Freeman, the teen heartthrob star of the OC-style show Seaside Cove. Furious that her favorite show is not only about to be ruined by an actor who has probably never even seen Starfield, Freeman will be filling the shoes of her hero Prince Carmindor. Soon Elle discovers that a cosplay contest at ExcelsiCon is the ticket to all her problems, but only if her family doesn't ruin her chances.

Darien Freeman is secretly a massive geek. He has been a huge Starfield fan ever since his lonely childhood in Los Angeles and he knows every episode and every line. He has managed to land his dream role, Prince Carmindor, however the die hard Starfield fans are furious at his casting. Knowing that he has to prove himself to the fans, especially the outspoken author of Rebelgunner, Darien decides that he'll judge a cosplay contest at ExcelsiCon as part of the press tour for his new film and can redeem himself to fans, face his past, and assert some independence.

I knew I had to read this book as soon as I learned about it. A geeky twist on the classic Cinderella story, Geekerella was everything I wanted it to be and more. It's not just a fun and fluffy retelling of the fairy tale -- although I did manage to read it in a single day -- it investigates the things that make geek culture so wonderful and so problematic. Elle is more than a Cinderella stand-in. She's not the most beautiful girl in the room, but she's a smart, funny, and strong young woman. Despite the years of emotional abuse at the hands of her stepmother and her stepsisters, she is not broken. Her passion for Starfield is something I think a lot of us can relate to in some way. She's just a normal girl -- she could be you or your friend or that quiet girl who sits at the back of the class.

Elle was great. but I really, and quite unexpectedly, loved Darien. His whole character and story line were incredibly well done. Far from the passive prince, Darien struggles with his controlling father/manager, his fame and the consequences it brings, and his identity as a public and private figure. I thought he had so much depth and his story can teach us a lot about not making assumptions and judgements based on how a person looks. He was a true, modern Prince Charming.

The elements of the Cinderella story are all present in Geekerella, but with a modern twist. The fairy godmother is a punk rock girl, the carriage is a pumpkin-shaped vegan food truck, the ball is a fan convention, and Cinderella's iconic dress is a cosplay. Poston manages to weave the familiar elements of the classic Cinderella tale together with modern touches and creates something new and relevant to her audience.

The best part of the book for me is how she tackled the darker side of fandoms. It's easy to write a love letter to geek culture, but much harder to acknowledge that it is problematic in a number of ways. Elle is far from a perfect character. She easily falls into the 'you are not like me therefore there's no way you are a fan/worthy of this thing I love' character type. She has absolutely no confidence that Darien can play this role because of his rise to fame in a cheesy teen TV show -- it actually reminded me a lot of the backlash against Heath Ledger when he was cast as The Joker. She isn't the only one; Dairen is approached by an angry fan early in the book and the online backlash, led by Rebelgunner, is high. Poston also challenges the idea of the 'fake geek girl' that many women face in the geek community, particularly at cons.

Filled with the power of fandom, friendship, and self-worth, Geekerella covers the heartbreak of losing a parent, the loneliness of being an outcast, and the power of fandom and friendships. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever been a part of a fandom, thrown themselves into the weird and wonderful geek culture, or has been treated unfairly by their peers because of what they love. Additionally, make sure you take a look at the acknowledgments at the end.

Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite!

Rating 4.5/5

This book was so adorable! While it was a little predictable I was addicted and couldn't put it down. The retelling of Cinderella with modern twists made this book so much fun and added a bit of nostalgia for me. I absolutely LOVED Elle as an MC and her trusty sidekick, Sage, was equally as lovable. A must read YA contemporary!

Great for teens (and has great crossover appeal for older readers), Geekerella follows seventeen year old Elle Wittimer, stuck in a social-climbing step-family. A long time fan of the sci-fi show Starfield, she's excited for the upcoming Hollywood adaptation and for the chance to attend ExcelsiCon, a fan convention established by her late father. Darien Freeman, the Hollywood heartthrob has been cast as Prince Carmindor. Secretly, a long time fan of Starfield, he wonders if he could do the role justice. A chance text-encounter brings our protagonists to explore themselves and their appreciation for their beloved sci-fi show.

Geeky and fandom-filled, Geekerella is a fun retelling of the classic Cinderella. Thoroughly enjoyable, sweet, and heartwarming at times, Geekerella not only follows our "cinderella", but our "prince charming" as well. Elle and Darien's voices are animated, touching, and inspirational.

Even if you're not in a science fiction show (and related) fandoms, I think nerds and geeks alike will appreciate the way fandom culture is portrayed in Geekerella. You don't have to be in a fandom to appreciate it of course. Everyone can enjoy the witty banter between the characters and the easy way Poston is able to pull us into the story.

I've been wanting to read a modern take on Cinderella and this book did not disappoint. Interesting enough, I found a lot of similarities between Geekerella and Ever After (the Drew Barrymore movie).

What I really liked was how we got read from both Elle and Darien's perspectives. With a Dual-POV book, it's sometimes hard to differentiate between voices, but Poston is able to give them unique voices, experiences, and their own trepidations and set-backs.

Also, in Dual-POV books sometimes you want to rush to the next character's perspective, but I couldn't wait to read from both Elle and Darien's point of view. The side-characters were given adequate page-time and we're given time to get to know and care about them too (at least, the ones we're supposed too).

Geekerella also features LGBT+ characters, POC rep (our Prince is of Indian heritage (if I'm wrong, please correct me) and the issue of white-washing in the Hollywood industry.

This contemporary-romance has doses of enemies-to-lovers, a pinch of star-crossed lovers, and, to my understanding, You've Got Mail elements (but, I can't be sure since I haven't seen the film).

Geekerella is downright cute and heartwarming read. A fun, modern, fan-filled take on the Cinderella story. Great for Cinderella and fandom geeks alike.

I didn't finish this. The premise sounds fun, but the voice did not grab me, and with everything else I need to read, I can't give it time to get better. I read the first three or four chapters before deciding to move one to something else.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of Danielle Wittimer, a girl with a positively awful stepmother and two equally awful step sisters. Ever since her father died Elle has felt alone in the world, just trying to sludge through the days and save up enough money to move to LA. Her only outlet for her frustrations is her blog where she writes about Starfield, a show that her and her Dad would watch together. Her Dad even started a convention nearby in Atlanta years ago, a convention that Elle hasn’t been to in years. This year though there is a contest and the winner gets $500 and a chance to meet the new star of the upcoming Starfield movie, Darien Freedman. Elle could care less about meeting the previously unknown actor, she wants to win the cash prize to help her on her way to her dream. But she also wants to meet the boy that she’s been talking to for weeks, her own Prince Carmindor. But he turns out to be who she least expects.
Overall I really liked this book. It was an interesting and modern retelling of the Cinderella tale. The cast of characters in this book was awesome, I loved each of the characters and what they added to the story. There were a couple of frustrating points in the book for me and one of them was that I felt the villainous characters in the book, specifically Chloe, should’ve gotten a bit more punishment for their wrongs. At one point Chloe steals Elle’s life-savings (which is about $700) and NOTHING HAPPENS. If someone stole $700 from me I would call the cops and have her ass arrested. So there were certain points that I thought Elle (and Darien really) should’ve fought back a little more. But the parts about Elle’s Mom and Dad and keeping their memories alive were truly touching. And I loved the ending, how Darien came riding in on his “white horse” (LOL) to save the day. This was a really cute retelling of Cinderella’s tale with all the modern twists that will attract a fandom of its own.

Geekerella is a charming love letter to fandoms, optimism, and the blessing of finding your tribe.
The characters in Geekerella run the range from believable and endearing to overdrawn. I never could quite believe the stepmom, Catharine. She was a little overdone, as the "evil step-moms" often are. She filled a role but I didn't see exactly what power she had over Danielle, who had planned to run away to L.A. In fact, that was one of the only things I didn't like about Danielle's character, also. However, that tiny bit aside, I enjoyed the rest of the characters in the book. I didn't know going in that it was multiple pov but getting Darien's side of the story was a fantastic choice. I think I liked his characterization best of all.
One of the other things I liked is that the emotions were really explored. It wasn't just a cute plot with clever pop-culture references; the characters' feelings matched the action and the author took the time to let us see them all. In fact, my two favorite elements of the book were Danielle's relationship to her mom and dad and the emotional connection that left an imprint in her life and also the authors portrayal of fandom and the emotional connections we find in uniting behind what we love.
Also a bonus, a resolution that doesn't end at a happily-ever-after but actually moves us forward to get a real sense of closure.
It had its tiny flaws, but overall I can see this being a book that many people will enjoy. (It's also clean enough that I can recommend it to my students!)

Geekerella is a quirky, fun, romantic merging of Cinderella and a fictionalized obsessive syfy fandom, like Star Trek or Doctor Who. The main character, Elle, is likable and had just the right amount of depth to keep me interested. Even though the story was predictable, it was enjoyable, although some further editing could be done. Some of the supporting characters were inconsistently represented. Like the stepmother. Sometimes she seemed downright evil and other times she seemed to really care about Elle. And at times it was hard for me to follow the fictional fandom; I felt like an outsider, completely lost at all the inside jokes. But if you're in the mood for a different kind of fairytale, Geekerella might be the right pick for you.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve seen this book absolutely everywhere around the bookternet recently! Geekerella promised a swoonworthy romance with a healthy dose of fandom culture, and though I was left wanting a bit more from some elements of the story, overall, it delivered on those promises.

In Geekerella, we follow two different POVs. Our main character, Elle, has been a devoted Starfield fan her entire life. With a movie reboot of the fan-favorite sci-fi TV series in the works, she decides to enter a cosplay contest at ExcelsiCon in order to honor her late parents and her own love for the franchise. Our other main character, Darien (also a huge fan of the series, though he hides his geekiness to keep his “brand” consistent), has just been cast in the leading role of Prince Carmindor in the new Starfield movie. Through a series of coincidences, Darien and Elle begin anonymously texting, beginning a friendship that quickly turns into something more. The only problem? Elle thinks Darien is all wrong for the role of her favorite character, and Darien has no idea Elle is the blogger who published a biting criticism of him after his casting was announced. I thought the dual POVs were handled well. I never had any confusion as to whose story I was reading at any given point.

Geekerella utilized a lot of my favorite tropes in romances. Not only do we have the “pen pal” (in this case, it’s texting, but whatever), romance, but this is also a Cinderella retelling. I tend to be wary of fairytale retellings, but I think this is the rare book that gets it right. I always admire when classic stories are cleverly adapted to a modern setting, and the author definitely nailed that aspect. I do wish the side characters– especially Elle’s stepmother and stepsisters– had been fleshed out a bit more. I could never really understand their motivations; often, they just seemed like evil incarnate, with no other motive than to make Elle’s life a living hell. As for other retelling elements, I thought the Magic Pumpkin food truck was so, so unique and clever (plus, oh my gosh, I loved Sage and her role as the “fairy godmother” of sorts)! And, of course, the cosplay ball was awesome. I always love a good ballroom dancing scene.

Another thing I really adored about this story: it’s totally a love letter to fandom and fan culture. From the cosplay, to the con setting, to the quotes from Starfield at the beginning of each chapter, Geekerella really celebrates fandom culture and the people who make it so amazing. And, of course, there’s the nerd love! Not only is the main romance between Elle and Darien adorable, but there’s also a side f/f ship that I loved. Oh, and Darien himself is half Indian-American. Yay, representation!

I do wish the romance had been paced better. One minute, Elle and Darien were casually discussing the Starfield series, and the next, BOOM, they were in love. And maybe this is just me being overly paranoid, but I felt like there were some major safety concerns that went unaddressed??? Texting a stranger you’ve never once met, seen, or talked to seems pretty careless and unnecessarily dangerous, no matter what kind of *~gut feelings~* you have about the person they are (especially if you’re a minor!). But, I digress. I will say, I really enjoyed where the romance left off. I’ve seen some people say the ending left too many strings untied for their taste, but I personally love endings that are left the slightest bit open, especially in YA contemporary. I also think Geekerella reads like a bit of a younger YA, but this didn’t bother me.

All in all, Geekerella was pretty adorable, if a bit lacking in substance. However, what it lacked in substance, it made up for in heart! I would recommend this to any fellow geeks and fangirls/fanboys/fanbys out there. Definitely a fun, fluffy YA contemporary to pick up this spring!

Have you read Geekerella? If so, what did you think? If not, do you plan to pick it up anytime soon?

I feel like this book would be such a great read for people who maybe haven't read that many Cinderella stories before! It was such a quick and cute and geeky read, and I totally get why everyone is in love with it. For me, a lot of the elements felt overused, and there weren't enough original layers or aspects to the original tale for me to really enjoy this story.

This adorable geeky twist of a classic is outstandingly good. Geekerella centres around Elle and her true passion which is Starfield. Starfield is everything to her, after losing her parents Starfield is the only thing that connects her to them and their love story. When she hears the news that Darien Freeman is playing the leading character in Starfield, she's devastated. He is nothing like the Carmindor

Darien Freeman a teenage movie star wants nothing but to be a normal teenager. Oh what he would give to be a normal teenager again A secret Starfield fan, Darien wants to do justice to the part of Carmindor but he has self doubts and trust issues. Can he do justice to Carmindor?

So when Elle and Darien accidently connect via text, we see a blooming relationship that looks passed what is perceived and it breathtakingly refreshing to see a sensitive side to a male character. We see both Elle and Darien's insecurities and how they try to deal with those insecurities.

Geekerella isn't JUST a love story, it's so much more than that. We see the budding friendship between Elle and Sage. How friendships can blossom in the most unlikely of places How to not judge a person by what we think they will do. To open ourselves to others. To ask for help. To not be afraid.

What makes Geekerella a 5 star read? There's no words to describe the feelings the novel invokes, how deeply this novel touched me. The emotions, the feelings, the joy, the hurt. Maybe this passage will help you to understand....

“I'm half of my father. Half of my hero. And I am half of my mother. Half soft sighs and half sharp edges. And if they can be Carmindor and Amara--then somewhere in my blood and bones I can be too. 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. I am my parents' daughter, and then I realize--I realize that in this universe they're alive too. They're alive through me. Fashioning my hands into a pistol, I point it at the ceiling, lifting my chin, raising my eyes against the blinding stage lights, and I ignite the stars.”


― Ashley Poston, Geekerella

I love the fact that Ashley Poston hits the nail on the head with I'm the villain of my story, and the hero and The Possible and the Impossible no true words could be said (or wrote in this case). It doesn't matter if you're young or old, this timeless tale with a twist will connect with you.

For me personally...what did I gain from reading Geekerella.... You are in control of your destiny Play the villain, play the hero but don't allow self doubt to hold you back.

“Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.”

― Ashley Poston, Geekerella

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A great cinderella style retelling reminiscent of the film A Cinderella Story.

Elle doesn't fit in with her "family". Her father died and left her alone with her hateful step-mother who not only doesn't understand her, but in fact despises her. She also has to contend with step-sisters who are cruel, wretched, and utterly vicious. It's not fair and Elle wishes for an escape. That's where "Carmindor" comes in. He's the prince in her favorite t.v. show of all time. He also happens to be the anonymous guy who inadvertently texted her; well, it's the pseudonym he's using anyhow. Their one text conversation quickly spirals into a very consistent back and forth as they talk about their shared love of this old t.v. show and then more about personal aspects of their lives. Without ever truly giving away their identities, Elle and "Carmindor" begin to forge a special connection, one that surpasses a basic online friendship. Elle, looks forward to her daily texts from "Carmindor" and senses in him something she desperately needs- a kindred spirit, love, and freedom.

Geekerella is a classic fairytale retelling with a fresh, modern twist. There's a lonely girl treated like a slave by the ones who should care for her the most. There's a prince, a pumpkin carriage, a fairy godmother (of sorts), a fabulous gown, a beautiful ball- even a clock where time is running out. It's all here! If you're a fan of the original and enjoy a good re-envisioned tale, don't miss this cute book by Ashley Poston. Fangirls of classic and modern sci-fi/fantasy alike will also enjoy this romantic delve into geekdom.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me this review opportunity.

ARC from NetGalley

2.5 This YA remix of Cinderella stars Elle Wittimer, the family geek and scapegoat for her stepmother and two popular stepsisters who live in Charleston SC, and Darien Freeman, a young actor on a teen dramarama who is up for the role in a movie reboot of a classic television sci fi show, STARFIELD, a sort of cross between STAR TREK and STAR WARS, but with a man of color playing its star, Prince Carmindor. Elle, whose father also loved STARFIELD and who founded a major fan convention devoted to it and other sci fi pop culture, writes a blog about STARFIELD; her post criticizing the choice of Darien as potential star goes viral. Meanwhile, through an errant text message, Elle and Darien, unaware of the other's real identity, begin a text-message only long-distance relationship. The two meet up at the annual convention, complete with fancy dress ball, but Elle is devastated to find out her text-messenger's true identity. But Darien comes in pursuit, glass slipper in hand...

It seemed rather wish-fulfilling to think that a television sci fi show famous for featuring the first man of color in a leading role could be old enough to need a remake.

Elle is supposed to be a geek, but there is little here that suggests such an identity besides her interest in STARFIELD. We see her mainly in the context of her family, and said family is pretty flatly drawn (uncaring, unkind stepmother; one stepsister truly cruel, the other weak and unresisting); Elle is the heroine by virtue of being abused by these three women, rather than for anything interesting she is or does herself. The story thus ended up feeling more like a Disney Channel feel-good movie (complete with gay sidekick, multicultural cast, and the reformation of one of the stepsisters), but the feel-good only skims the surface of deeper, unexplored tensions.

I first found fandom when I was about thirteen. I discovered that when my favorite TV show was over I couldn't just give it up. I wanted to know what happened after that last episode aired. I found my answer in fanfiction-- a wonderful world where Buffy didn't end after season 7, where she and Angel could reunite, where I could make the impossible seem possible even in just 10K words. Since those first few stories, I've found a pseudo-family in fandom. I have friends from around the world, followers on a blog where I write snippets of short stories for fun. I get to "squee" about my favorite characters to people who understand that they're not just fiction to me.

GEEKERELLA brought back that first magic of fandom for me and reminded me of why i love it. Sometimes, fandom can be isolating because you realize in real life that not many people share the same interests as you. But on your blog or forums or tumblr, you're not quite as alone. Whatever is going on in real life can fade away while you imagine a whole other universe with endless of possibilities. It was wonderful to see those thoughts mirrored in this book.

Despite being a bit predictable at times, GEEKERELLA was wonderful. The dual point of view was a treat. The worldbuilding of fandom was also so well thought out and imagined. I felt as if I could put down the book at any time and turn on an episode of Starfield if I wanted to. Ashley Postan proved herself to not only understand fandom and "geek" culture but to succeed at writing a fun, heart-felt story. I loved this book and have already recommended it on tumblr and to friends IRL and in fandom. I can't wait for more people to enjoy the story. Thank you again for letting me read it early!

Every so often I read a book that makes me positively giddy with joy and all I can do is make heart-eyes at it whenever I see it in stores or on someone's bookshelf. Geekerella was such a book for me. I adored it so much! It was both a Cinderella retelling and a love letter to fandom and it was everything my nerdy little heart wanted from it.

This book had everything we've come to expect from a retelling of Cinderella: the horrible stepmother you can't help but hate, the mean stepsisters, the swoony Prince Charming, the fairy godmother, the ball, and a pumpkin turned into a coach. What I loved the most about this retelling is that we get to see the story unfold from the points-of-view of both Cinderella and Prince Charming! I was a little wary going into this because of all the hype this book was getting and the last few Cinderella retellings I've read were total disappointments. Who knew that a comic convention and fandom would make such a perfect setting for a modernized Cinderella?!?

Our nerdy Cinderella, Elle, and Darien, our prince Charming, are both deeply into the world of Starfield, which was very much a mash-up of the Star Wars and Star Trek fandoms with a touch of Doctor Who thrown in for an even more dedicated fanbase. Due to their respective circumstances, they both have different views on the fandom that added more depth to the story.

While the retelling part was a little bit too on the nose, I enjoyed the heck out of it. This book follows texts, blogs, and various fandom things that were so relatable to those of us who are deeply involved in our own fandoms. While their connection was imperfect, I found myself rooting for Darien and Elle to get together and get their happily ever after. If you're a fan of fairy tale retellings, this is definitely one you need to add to your reading list. It's definitely a contender for one of my favorite books of the year.

I have always found books about cons and fandom intriguing. So of course I was going to read this asap.

I looooooved Elle. I love that she's struggling and smart and heartbroken and finds solace in fandom. There were so many relatable things here for me. Darien is uncertain and struggling in his own way and the relationship between them is perfection.

Yes, it follows the Cinderella story, but this is entirely unique. I throughly enjoyed how Ashley took those parts and made the story her own. This was a rollercoaster of feels. I laughed and squee'd and gasped and mother fucking fist pumped.

It is literally a love letter to fandom and my heart is so so so full.

**Huge thanks to Quirk Books and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**