Review: Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Title: Geekerella
Author: Ashley Poston
Publisher: Quirk Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Category: Contemporary Romance
Release date: April 4th, 2017
Pages: 320 (ARC)
Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Publisher
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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.

When Elle's father died, Starfield was the only reminder she had left of his existence.  Starfield was what brought her parents together, and later became a family tradition, something she would carry with her for years to come.  Her "stepmomster" was on a mission to get rid of any and everything left over from Elle's past, including memorabilia and reminders of the family she once had.  On the other side of the country, Darien Freeman struggles in the spotlight.  He's been cast as Carmindor in the new remake of Starfield, but he didn't realize what a challenge it would be to play such a beloved character.  His father, aka his manager, does whatever will make the most money and get the most attention, putting Darien's best interest behind everything else.   When Elle and Darien begin texting each other anonymously, they realize that there's much more to life than what's right in front of them.

The compatibility between these two main characters is perfect.  Although Hollywood has pinned Darien as a teenage heartthrob, he's secretly as big of a fan of the series as Elle is, even attending ExcelsiCon- a Starfield-based convention- before he was famous.  They each find solace and an escape in their daily conversations.  I have to say that my favorite character was a green-haired girl named Sage who acts as Elle's fairy godmother when Elle's ExcelsiCon plans go up in flames.  She helps Elle with her cosplay costume and encourages her to make the changes necessary for her happiness.

This is a modern Cinderella retelling, but the author did a fantastic job making it original.  The Magic Pumpkin was a vegan food truck, and the royal ball was a cosplay masquerade.  Everything about this book is perfect for those who love all things geeky.  There are also many fandoms mentioned, which I really enjoyed, because I could envision myself in ExcelsiCon with Elle and Darien as a part of the Supernatural or Buffy the Vampire Slayer groups.

I love that this story is told from both Elle and Darien's points of view.  As the reader, we get to see two opposites coming together, one who lives her day-to-day life as a slave to her stepmother and stepsisters commands, and the other who lives in the limelight surrounded by screaming fangirls at all times.  Darien was far more down to earth than I expected him to be, which made me swoon the more we got to know him.  Geekerella is a fantastic novel for all those who have found comfort in a specific series, been labeled as a geek, or simply love cute, unique romances.