Sometimes, I want nothing more than a book that will make me smile. Geekerella, the first stand-alone novel in the Once Upon a Con Series by Ashley Poston, does exactly that.
Geekerella
Elle is the daughter of two nerds, her father even started a new convention in honour of their favourite fandom: Starfield. Unfortunately, her parents passed away when she was still very young, and her stepmother and stepsisters do not understand her passion at all. To make matters worse, the production of a Starfield revival has chosen a popular – yet highly unsuitable – actor for the lead role, a fact that Elle blogs viciously about. Little does she know that Darien is actually a serious fanboy himself. Fate being ever ironic, the two of them start to get close via text messages, although neither of them knows who exactly they’re texting…
A surprising take on a well-known fairytale
As the title clearly indicates, this story is a modern retelling of Cinderella. I have loved this story intensely from start to finish. I’ve always been a fangirl myself, so I felt very connected to the characters and I loved the way in which Poston brings to life a world that is so recognizable. The book is a true page turner and will make you laugh and swoon alternatively. I cannot wait to read the other stand-alone novels in this series! Four out of five gemstones:
Age Category: Young Adult
Representation: LGBTQ+ supporting characters
Trigger Warnings (click here, may contain spoilers)
Very mild. Warnings for parental death and bullying.Do you want to discover more?
If my review inspired you to pick up the book, don’t hesitate to check it out at Goodreads or at the below online stores.
Amazon.nl: Paperback Edition
Amazon.nl: eBook Edition
Cannot get enough? Then you are in luck, because you can download a short story sequel on the author’s website. The PDF also contains short stories linked to the next two books in the series. The one for this book is called Once at Midnight and is set after the conclusion of Geekerella. It’s a very cute story, loved it!
Similar to this
The next stand-alone novel in the Once Upon a Con Series is The Princess and the Fangirl. This is a modern retelling of The Prince and the Pauper. I, for one, cannot wait to dive into this celebration of fandom culture!
I’ve read one other book by this author, namely Among the Beasts & Briars. While this is not an official retelling, the story gave me distinct Beauty and the Beast vibes. My review can be found here.
Looking for more Young Adult Contemporary novels to brighten your day? Then make sure to check out the following three novels!
Firstly, Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan. Theme parks, holiday love, teenage angst, and an amazing LGBTQ+ love story, what more can you want! My review can be found here. Next, and very much in the same theme: Boy Meets Hamster by Birdie Milano. This is the story of a young teen who dreams of the perfect romantic holiday…only to get stuck on a cheap caravan park and thwarted by a giant hamster. My review of this funny novel can be read here. And lastly, the amazing Hating Jesse Harmon, by Robin Mimna. This is the story of a unpopular girl in high school who decides to become prom queen. I loved everything about this novel, including its wonderful representation. Highly recommended, check out my review here.