This was everything my Cinderella-loving, geeky fandom heart wanted. Longer review to come! I will add a blog link when it goes live.

I absolutely adored this book. As soon as I finished it, I immediately began thinking about how much I wanted to see this in movie form. It was adorable, touching, and sweet as all get out. I love retellings, but still didn't expect to like a Cinderella retelling as much as I liked GEEKERELLA.

I completely adored this book!

The characters were engaging and relatable, even if one of them was a celebrity hotshot. Their voices across chapters came off amazingly well. The romance between Elle and Darrien was the sweetest thing, fueled with geeky goodness and genuine care of each other. The translation from fairy tale to this story is brilliant - something that sounded like a push to me came off flawlessly in the final piece.

Don't even get me started on Sage and Cal. I want a whole book dedicated to them together and being adorable.

This is definitely a book I'd buy when it's released because I just loved every moment of it.

Holy fangirling, Batman! I LOVED this book. It has everything I want in a story – it’s cute, funny, and well-written to boot. If you have been part of any fandom in the last 20 years, READ THIS BOOK. I’ve never read a book exactly like it, and yet part of it feels like coming home.

Full disclaimer here: I’m a fangirl. I spend a good 80% of my free time on the internet, immersed in pop culture and fandom. I have read fanfiction until the sun comes up, squealed over trailers with people from other continents, other timezones. In fandom, I found a diverse range of people who still find something in common. Never before have I read a book which captures this so well.

Geekerella is a love letter to fandom dressed up in a Cinderella dress. It hits all the notes of the retold fairytale, swapping the ball for a cosplay competition and the fairy godmother for a green-haired workmate with a knack for fashion design. Beyond that, it echoes You’ve Got Mail through anonymous text messages. Their public interactions even have shades of a gender-flipped Pride and Prejudice, with Darian proud of his nerdy background and Elle prejudiced against him for his soap opera beginnings and screaming fangirls. Neither character is perfect, but they learn and grow as the story goes on.

The rest of the characters are fully fleshed out, as well. Even Catherine, the evil stepmother, has a human side. Instead of some one-dimensional caricature, she comes across as a shallow woman with a deep resentment of the fan culture that makes up the backbone of the story. Not because she’s shallow, but because she feels her deceased husband loved it more than her.

Geekerella is also peppered with fandom references and outright name-dropping, from Lord of the Rings to Doctor Who – all the big name fandoms of the last 15 years save Harry Potter and Twilight (though the former gets a shout out in the acknowledgements – let’s hear it for AVPM!). They all feel natural, inserted with great care because the author loves them and not just the main characters do.

Elle’s final confrontation with Catherine also has a lovely monologue on the power of fandom, how it’s not the subject matter but the community that is built around it. There also is an awesome takedown of the ‘fake geek’ mindset and celebrity culture, and validation of all sorts of fans – even those who liked Val Kilmer’s Batman. The author gets it.

I could gush about this book for a lot longer. It’s not perfect – the story is mightily predictable and I sometimes wished both characters would stand up for themselves a little more – but I enjoyed every word. If fandom means anything, has ever meant anything, to you, go read Geekerella. Please.

Hey everyone! Raise your hand if you've been in a slump recently? Yeah, us too. It's weird, right? Well, to combat the slump, Kelly over at BookCrushin and I decided to read Geekerella by Ashley Poston, a book that tickles our geek hearts and was sure to cure us.

And cure us, it did. At least temporarily. Since we loved it so much, we decided to talk about it together. Come fangirl with us!

Two Fangirls Review Geekerella

Geekerella is a geeky reimagining of Cinderella. How well does it hit it off for the geek and Cinderella elements?

K: I think this may be the geekiest book I have ever read & LOVED that aspect! But mixing that sci-fi nerdiness into the Cinderella universe was just adorable...glass slipper and all!

CJ: This book is getting sooo much geeky hype so I was totally skeptical about it. Plus, aren't we all burnt out of retellings? Let me tell you: The hype is real AND it's such a perfect contemporary geeky retelling. I loved Stranger Than Fanfiction and The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love...This is totally in the same vein.

In Cinderella, there’s a “normal” girl who becomes a princess and her swoonworthy prince charming. What are Elle and Darian like compared to their fairytale counterparts?

K: I would say that Dorian isn't really like the prince charming in Cinderella, but more of a persona that he has to be to be famous when underneath he is just a giant geek and wants to be a normal teenager, and not stalked by the paparazzi. Where as Elle is being trampled upon her mean stepsisters and whacky stepmonster and felt much more like her fairytale counterpart but way funnier!

CJ: Inspired by and so much better! Darien gets depth and a backstory that makes him even more swoonworthy (fanboy!) and Elle is so much more than the abused girl in Cinderella. Plus their friends and the characters around them are fun, too.

So we’ve established that these two met via the internet. Talk about your experiences meeting people on the internet.

K: Almost all of the people I am close with these days, I have met online, mostly in my own geeky community full of book nerds. I also started my relationship with my partner online, and was totally scared to met her in person, because in my day meeting people from the internet was scary, so I dragged my bestie along with me to a very populated bar. I can't imagine my life without the relationships I have solidified online, because sometimes we need to find our squad, and they just might not be close by!

CJ: Well, I mean, I met Kelly on bookternet so it must not be working out too badly. ;) Actually, I've met some of my best friends on the internet. My husband and I connected over the internet and met at a concert. So meeting people on the internet has been a super positive experience. Highly recommend.

But is the stepmother really evil? What about the stepsisters?

K: I wanted to throat punch the stepmom, but not eeevil. More like idiotic and cruel. She's trying to live above her means, while appearances and class are all that matters to her, and those are the things I eschew in my life. The stepsisters are a product of their mother, but I think you will like where the story takes them both.

CJ: She's really awful. Evil is a stretch but she's a selfish, grieving widow that is taking her feelings out on her stepdaughter. The twins are similar but get a different story in this book. I won't say more than that!

What are some of your favorite quotes? What unique aspects of the story did you love?

K: I love how the book shows how much of a community one can find online with others whom love what you do. You are not alone, if you ship something, so do a thousand others, and you can either be a positive part of that or not. I also love that Ashley created an entirely new fandom & universe, meanwhile, she uses tons of other well known fandoms and incorporates those aspects into the story too, because we geeks don't just love one fandom...we love many. I also really have to hand it to the romance...it was adorable.

It isn't the kind of kiss to end a universe of possibilities. It's the exact opposite. It's the kind of kiss that creates them.

CJ: I love the bright spotlight on fandoms and cons and bringing people together. And food trucks! Who doesn't love food trucks (which moonlight as the pumpkin in this story ;)). The quote below summarizes what I love about the story.

We might all be different—we may ship different things or be in different fandoms—but if I learned anything from twenty-three days in a too blue uniform playing a character I thought I could never be, it’s that when we become those characters, pieces of ourselves light up like glow sticks in the night. They shine. We shine. Together.

Ok, we can’t escape this convo without talking about fandoms. If Geekerella was set in your favorite fandom, what would that look like?

K: Well I am a big big big nerd. I am really into Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and Game of Thrones to name a few. Since most of those are very similar to the universe Ashley created in Geekerella, especially the rebooting of Star Wars for a new generation, I am going to go with my newest obsession, and that is a book universe of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. The cosplay is easy...masquerade balls and Calanmai & Starfall are perfect settings to recreate at a con or ball. The prince is the High Lord of the Night Court, Feyre is clearly Cinderella and even has some cruel sisters to boot. The evil stepmother is probably, Ianthe, and the fairy godmother is the maybe the Suriel!

CJ: Everyone knows I'm an avid member of the SPNFamily. We already have our own cons and cosplay contests so it would definitely include that. Our resident prince charming is actually Prince Eric (Gil McKinney also plays Prince Eric on OUAT) and he and another character graced a con I was at in cosplay. Our pumpkin is an Impala named Baby. The Evil Stepmother is actually Lucifer. There was once a fairy tale episode of Supernatural <3.

this book is so damn cute ahhh. i absolutely enjoyed everything about the book. a modern day cinderella retelling that doesn't make me eye roll the whole damn time?? sign me tf up.

geekerella was so well written. the pacing was fast (but not confusing fast). i read this in one sitting and enjoyed every moment of it. i could read it over and over, and not get tired of it. all the nerdy stuff made geekerella so much more fun to read.

the characters were pretty fun. i loved elle, she was so relatable (although a bit immature sometimes). darien was much the same. he did annoy me at first, but i think that was the point. i wish sage got more screen time (idk what you call this in book terminology, but she deserved more). she was a fun character, rebellious and creative. i didn't like the step sisters or elle's step mum, but i wish we'd learned more about their backstories. why did they treat elle the way they did? villains aren't bad just 'cause. there should be a reason and i felt that geekerella didn't explore this enough. the nice sister (i can't remember her name????) was very interesting and i honestly wish we knew more about her. she was sidelined so much, even in the end.

geekerella is a fantastic book for anyone in a reading slump or just wanting a cute, fluffy book. it was absolutely adorable. the storyline was easy to follow and no boring info dumping.

3 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

This one left me a bit conflicted. I am a self-professed geek, and really enjoyed all the geek references in this book (whether quotes or nods to real life fandoms, or just the overall feel of BEING in a fandom). That was honestly the highlight of the book for me, b/c I really do love the whole world of nerd culture (even if I'm not the type to cosplay or go to cons). And on the whole I was definitely entertained by this book, and don't regret reading it, I was just a bit disappointed b/c it was missing some magic.

For me, characters are what make or break a story, and I just didn't end up loving EITHER of our main characters. Which is not to say I disliked them!! I just didn't love them. And I kind of need to love at least one of them for me to really enjoy a story. They both felt a bit weak and with less dimension than I would have liked. I needed more from both of them.

Elle has a rather tragic childhood and current situation (consistent with the Cinderella tale), but I didn't end up really feeling much empathy for her. I didn't really get a feel for her emotions on any of the events that shaped her. She felt kind of flat. I can't even tell you why, what did I need to make it...just...more... But I didn't really *feel* her grief. I didn't feel her loneliness, or what did she feel after whatever happened the previous summer? And I couldn't vibe with how socially inept she was that it took her so long to understand when Sage was reaching out to her. It felt...forced? I don't know, I'm probably mucking this all up. She just wasn't that interesting I guess. Like she had some of the building blocks there, but never went anywhere with them. She wanted to be a scriptwriter, but she had stopped writing (other than on her blog)? How was that going to work out?

And Darien. OK, I am all for a beta boy, but a beta boy still has to have some inner strength, you know? Some quality that makes you root for him. His development and backbone took entirely too long to come around. Why was he so reluctant to take his career into his own hands? Why did he let Mark boss him around like that? Was he just apathetic? I guess I can kind of see it based on things that had happened in his past, but it wasn't enough to make me really get behind him. Did he even like acting??

And for goodness sake, what race was he? Was he Indian? The only reason I would guess that is because he's not a white-washed pick for Carmindor, and the previous actor's last name was Singh. Why bother having that element and not go into it? I can't even call this book diverse, b/c it's NEVER EXPLORED. What was it like to be a different race celebrity heartthrob? Was he half? ANYTHING! JUST GIVE ME SOMETHING! Or don't make it an element at all! That, apparently, really annoyed me.

And honestly, the chemistry between Elle and Darien wasn't really there besides a bit of a friendship. I didn't really buy that development. From the messages we saw, I'm not sure what drew them together. I could have used a bit more. Even when they finally interacted in person, they were both so distracted by other things, I didn't get the magic I was looking for until the ball. Bummer.

And in the end I was unsatisfied with the evil characters. They were kind of caricatures. And Catherine was abusive as heck, so I didn't get a satisfactory resolution with her. I guess it was realistic in some ways, but still unsatisfying. Chloe's was a bit better, but again, she was a stereotypical mean girl. No depth there. And I wasn't always happy with how things happened along the way to stick with the plot (like bringing the costume back to the house, hiding the tickets in the house). Not to mention the whole selling the house thing. If it was left to Elle, then how can Catherine sell it? Is there no law there?

Sage and Calliope were bright spots in terms of secondary characters. I felt bad for both of them because Elle really took a long time to give them a chance. But I liked that they each had more depth to their characters. On the other side, I enjoyed Gail and Lonny, but felt like there could have been even more from them...I wanted more anyways.

So yeah. That all reads like a bummer review. But it's really just me ruminating on why this book missed the mark between an entertaining read and a life-changing read. If you enjoy nerd culture though, I think you will love all the nods in this one. In the end it was a book with a LOT of potential that just failed to live up to it for me.

Such an amazing cute book! I loved everything about it. I can't wait to get a few physical copies!

This is a magical Cinderella retelling, with wicked stepmothers, bratty stepsisters, a pumpkin that serves as transportation, and even losing a plastic slipper. A die hard Starbound fan, her father the creator of ExcelsiCon is going to give everyone that she has to win a cosplay event to get the tickets and transportation to Atlanta, where this is hosted.

“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.”


A perfect description of who Elle is. If you are at all familiar with the popculture and story of Cinderella, you would know that she’s an orphan. Here the author can spin that element of her personality, and shine her dead parents’ character through it. The way that Poston describes stars and the night sky blows my mind. There’s an element of pure wonder, coming from both of your narrators that make the readers feel as if they’re staring at the night sky right then. If you love romance that feature enemies-to-lover, anonymous text messages, and cons, than this is the book for you.

“I know fans are the worst sometimes. The best, but also the worst. And you are a fan. So you’re going to be the worst to yourself. You’re going to judge yourself the harshest.”

I adore seeing fangirls and fanboys active within the fandom be represented in YA novels. All throughout this story, I felt like I could really relate to Elle’s obsessions and her determined fangirl girl that shines through against all odds. Also, I really enjoy taking a deep dive into teenager celebrities lives, and what it’s like for them to be new on the scene of Hollywood. Darien, our Carmindor, is the most beloved character of the show that he’s watched since he was seven.

The author isn’t afraid to explore the dark side of fandom, the fans that go too far and ruthlessly criticize newer reruns that are happening. The author includes diverse characters, like Elle’s best friend is gay and Darien is Indian I believe. Elle is such an adorable geek, such an adorable nerd, and I loved her all the more for it. There’s nothing that she wouldn’t do for her fandom and for the show that got her through her childhood, even through her stepmother’s opposition.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**

What a sweet, geeky retelling! As a fairy tale retelling fan, I was looking forward to diving into this one. I mean--geeks, cosplay, and Cinderella? Sounds like a perfect combination, and it is.

Elle is nestled in her childhood home between a self-centered step-mother and twin step-sisters with country club dreams. Her real father and mother are both deceased, and she's not exactly at the top of the food chain in her present family. But she's sweet, hard working and simply a lovable geeky girl, who can't wait for the new remake of Starfield. When this suddenly gets her chatting with her maybe Prince Charming and a cosplay contest rolls into sight, things really get interesting.

There is so much to love in this story. There's a pumpkin lunch truck, where Elle works, that sells all sorts of quick pumpkin treats...albeit a little gringy. There's fandom in it's gorgeous extremes. And there's a prince, who isn't as aloof as he seems. This isn't a deep story nor is it poetic. But it's fun and cute and has all those warm fuzzy feelings which should come with a nicely told fairy tale.

In some ways, this reminds me of Sleepless in Seattle, as Elle and her prince first fall in love over short chats per cell phone. The build-up is well down, stretching along with the sub-plots as Elle battles her way through normal life with her step-family. Even the prince gains a spotlight as this star boy's problems and his desire for a return to a simpler time come through. When they finally meet at toward the end, things speed up almost too fast and plunge into a finishing sprint. Which causes for a little uneven tempo in the overall plot line. Also, as a sudden throw-in to meet modern demands, a quick F/F relationship is tossed in at the end.

Summed up, this is a super sweet read which fulfills its promise. The end happens a bit quick, but the characters have, by then, long gained their place in the fairy tale world. This is a must read for fans of Cinderella and happily ever after, especially those who edge on the border of geekiness themselves.

I got an advance copy of this book from Net Galley. I actually really liked this one! I love stories about the girl who ends up with the guy despite being in a bad situation. And not just any guy, the awesome TV star guy who needs her as much as she needs him. Elle's life turned bad since her dad passed away and she is stuck living with her nasty twin step-sisters and her dad's second wife. She tries to hard to be happy and rise above all the crap she has to do and the verbal abuse she takes from the three of them a la Cinderella. The whole cosplay thing was new to me but very good for the plot and story line. Elle is obviously very devoted to her Dad's cult following of the Stargazer series. Darien was but then became a star for a light beachy tv show that is not his favorite thing. The way they meet via text, and start texting each other, developing their relationship is so sweet. I also loved Elle's work partner Sage who turns out to be really awesome. Definitely recommend this one for a sweet, pretty quick, beachy, kind of read. Definitely nothing heavy although the Stargazer/cosplay stuff is a little bit confusing. I was SO glad to get an advance copy. Thanks Net Galley!! You guys are AWESOME!!

This was insanely cute. A very clear Cinderella retelling. I loved the modern aspects of it along with the friendship, diversity, romance, anonymous messages, fandom loving geeks, and everything else. I cannot say enough about the fun I had reading this book. The author did a wonderful job of enticing the emotions Elle was feeling. The step family made my blood boil.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for the ARC, Geekerella by Ashley Poston. This modern-day Cinderella fairy tale uses fandom, cosplay, nerdy fans, blogging, and a fast food truck shaped like a Magic Pumpkin to deliver an awesome remake of a beloved tale. Elle delivers as a plucky girl who misses her dead father desperately and suffers under the mean, petty aspirations of her step-mother. When Elle gets a call from someone anonymous (Darien, the lead in the movie) about contacting her Father’s business, ExcelsiCon; what begins are nightly texts between two teens who share their lives, hopes, and dreams all the while geeking out about the movie, Starfield. The characters are adeptly depicted; my favorite being Sage, brash lesbian with green hair, killer sewing machine, and in many ways, Elle’s fairy godmother. This book will be a hit with teens who enjoy fractured fairy tales!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”