Hello hello, and welcome or welcome back to my little bookish corner of the internet. Today it’s time to let out my secret romantic side, with a review of the young adult romantic fiction, Geekerella. This is one I’ve had on my radar for a while, and I finally got around to reading it, listening to it as an audiobook as part of the new Audible Plus catalogue.
Synopsis
Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale.
Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.
Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.
Review
First off, both of the narrators for this book, Eileen Stevens and Tristan Morris, were absolutely superb. They really brought both characters to life in a really vivid way, and I loved how both managed to put across the personalities of their characters, in all situations, especially in their interactions.
The characters of Elle and Darien were both well defined, and both so clearly looking for something – or someone – to give them the boost they needed in life, which they found in each other. As well as being a take on the traditonal fairy tale, it reminded me somewhat of You’ve Got Mail; two people contacting one another with all the things going on in their lives, one of whom has a big secret and thinks the other won’t like them. In this case, Darien is used to be used for his fame, and discarded, and so keeps his identity a secret.
I must admit that I got a bit bored about 3/4 of the way through just wanting the book to start moving on as it felt as if it was stalling slightly before reaching the climax of the story but I still felt the need to keep reading, and I am glad I finished it.
As well as Elle and Darien being great key characters, Sage, Elle’s co-worker and first real friend, was a great side character who I really took to, and feel a lot of love for, especially in her role towards the end of the book when – without spoiling it – she comes to the rescue in more than one way.
All in all, it was a fun, easy read, and I would absolutely read more of the Once Upon A Con series.
Thank you for joining me in this little trip around a Cinderella retelling. It might be a completely different style, but have you read Cinderella Is Dead? If Cinderella owns your heart, that’s another book you need in your life!
And On She Reads 