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The Fangirl Project
From the bestselling author of The Kissing Booth comes a romantic comedy about a girl who joins a book fantasy fandom to win over her crush, only to discover that love is just as complicated online.
When Cerys’ secret crush Jake moves to a new college, she realizes she’s running out of time to take their relationship from platonic to romantic. She’ll do anything to get out of Jake’s friendzone, even if that means finally diving into the huge fantasy fandom he loves so much. Though she absolutely can’t see the appeal in Of Wrath and Rune, if Jake loves it, then Cerys will too.
But when Jake introduces Cerys to his shiny new friend Max, who goes to all the fandom conventions—in cosplay (cringe)— Cerys realizes she’ll need to do a lot more to grab Jake’s attention than just read a few fanfics. But Max, with his dimples and dry humor, seems to always be hanging around, getting in the way.
Cerys is determined to become the ultimate fangirl to finally get on Jake’s radar. What she doesn’t expect is that she might actually like Of Wrath and Rune … and might like DMing with a suspiciously familiar guy in the fandom even more.
When Cerys’ secret crush Jake moves to a new college, she realizes she’s running out of time to take their relationship from platonic to romantic. She’ll do anything to get out of Jake’s friendzone, even if that means finally diving into the huge fantasy fandom he loves so much. Though she absolutely can’t see the appeal in Of Wrath and Rune, if Jake loves it, then Cerys will too.
But when Jake introduces Cerys to his shiny new friend Max, who goes to all the fandom conventions—in cosplay (cringe)— Cerys realizes she’ll need to do a lot more to grab Jake’s attention than just read a few fanfics. But Max, with his dimples and dry humor, seems to always be hanging around, getting in the way.
Cerys is determined to become the ultimate fangirl to finally get on Jake’s radar. What she doesn’t expect is that she might actually like Of Wrath and Rune … and might like DMing with a suspiciously familiar guy in the fandom even more.
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2025
23 people are currently reading
602 people want to read
About the author
Beth Reekles
25 books2,033 followersBeth Reekles is an author and creator best known for her series The Kissing Booth, which was adapted into a series of hit Netflix movies. She began her writing career by self-publishing The Kissing Booth on story-sharing platform Wattpad at fifteen years old, and earned a three-book deal with Penguin Random House at seventeen. Love, Locked Down is her tenth published book. After obtaining a Physics degree and working a day job in IT, she is now a full-time author and self-confessed nerd who loves to review movies on Instagram @authorbethreekles.
Her published works include:
The Kissing Booth
The Beach House
The Kissing Booth 2: Going the Distance
The Kissing Booth: Road Trip!
The Kissing Booth 3: One Last Time
Rolling Dice
Out of Tune
Cwtch Me If You Can
It Won't Be Christmas Without You
Love, Locked Down/Lockdown on London Lane
Her published works include:
The Kissing Booth
The Beach House
The Kissing Booth 2: Going the Distance
The Kissing Booth: Road Trip!
The Kissing Booth 3: One Last Time
Rolling Dice
Out of Tune
Cwtch Me If You Can
It Won't Be Christmas Without You
Love, Locked Down/Lockdown on London Lane
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
October 29, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
Cerys has a big crush on her best friend Jake, who moves to a new home and college, and Cerys can’t bear the thought of not turning their friendship into a romantic relationship. So why not try to earn his affections by being into the same things he’s into, even if it means watching a weird fantasy show, being a part of the fandom Discord, and going to Comic Con? Her plan seems to be running smoothly until she meets Jake’s new best friend, Max, who is a diehard fan of the series. That was not supposed to happen, especially with how rude and moody Max is, dampening Cerys’s attempts to make any time with Jake romantic. She needs to get rid of him, asap. But before she knows it, Cerys is actually enjoying Of Wrath and Rune and is having way more fun discussing the series with a very familiar guy on Discord.
I haven’t read The Kissing Booth series, nor have I seen the movies, and I kinda don’t want to. 😅 I guess it’s all the movie commentaries I’ve watched on YouTube that have me steering clear of watching them, lol! 😂 All this to say, I’m not familiar with Beth Reekles and her work. I wanted to read this book purely out of curiosity and interest, and I’m happy to say that I enjoyed this. ☺
This was very much a YA novel, so if you’re not into the genre as a whole, I don’t think you’d be a big fan of this. I had to constantly remind myself that this was about teenagers, and teenagers have a certain way of talking and making their lives harder than they need to be, but it didn’t really affect my overall enjoyment because it felt realistic and relatable, reminding me of how complicated my teenage years were. 😅
I enjoyed how the book was messy because life as a teenager is far from perfect. There’s the difficulty of keeping old friendships while making new ones, figuring out what emotions you are feeling, and knowing who you are and who you want to surround yourself with. And this book does well in relaying the message that it’s okay to be you and like what you like, whether it’s being a fan of a fantasy series, sports, or anything. Don’t change your interests or values to fit in because our uniqueness is what makes us…well, us. Easier said than done, I know, but in the long run, it’s so worth it to be yourself. ❤
Cerys (how do you pronounce that?) was actually very relatable, and I was rooting for her through the highs and lows of her life as she tried to get her best friend’s attention. Was the plot predictable? Oh yeah. I knew from the very beginning what was going to happen and to whom, but it didn’t put a damper on the “big reveal” or the ending. I loved the banter between Max and Cerys, and although Jake should have done some things differently, he wasn’t too bad. He was only being human, like everyone else in the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this cute rom-com. It was nothing special, but it was still cute. I recommend it if it suits your fancy. 🩷
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
I don’t remember anything you need to look out for. 🤭
Swearing: A little.
Spice: No–only kissing.
#TheFangirlProject #NetGalley
Cerys has a big crush on her best friend Jake, who moves to a new home and college, and Cerys can’t bear the thought of not turning their friendship into a romantic relationship. So why not try to earn his affections by being into the same things he’s into, even if it means watching a weird fantasy show, being a part of the fandom Discord, and going to Comic Con? Her plan seems to be running smoothly until she meets Jake’s new best friend, Max, who is a diehard fan of the series. That was not supposed to happen, especially with how rude and moody Max is, dampening Cerys’s attempts to make any time with Jake romantic. She needs to get rid of him, asap. But before she knows it, Cerys is actually enjoying Of Wrath and Rune and is having way more fun discussing the series with a very familiar guy on Discord.
I haven’t read The Kissing Booth series, nor have I seen the movies, and I kinda don’t want to. 😅 I guess it’s all the movie commentaries I’ve watched on YouTube that have me steering clear of watching them, lol! 😂 All this to say, I’m not familiar with Beth Reekles and her work. I wanted to read this book purely out of curiosity and interest, and I’m happy to say that I enjoyed this. ☺
This was very much a YA novel, so if you’re not into the genre as a whole, I don’t think you’d be a big fan of this. I had to constantly remind myself that this was about teenagers, and teenagers have a certain way of talking and making their lives harder than they need to be, but it didn’t really affect my overall enjoyment because it felt realistic and relatable, reminding me of how complicated my teenage years were. 😅
I enjoyed how the book was messy because life as a teenager is far from perfect. There’s the difficulty of keeping old friendships while making new ones, figuring out what emotions you are feeling, and knowing who you are and who you want to surround yourself with. And this book does well in relaying the message that it’s okay to be you and like what you like, whether it’s being a fan of a fantasy series, sports, or anything. Don’t change your interests or values to fit in because our uniqueness is what makes us…well, us. Easier said than done, I know, but in the long run, it’s so worth it to be yourself. ❤
Cerys (how do you pronounce that?) was actually very relatable, and I was rooting for her through the highs and lows of her life as she tried to get her best friend’s attention. Was the plot predictable? Oh yeah. I knew from the very beginning what was going to happen and to whom, but it didn’t put a damper on the “big reveal” or the ending. I loved the banter between Max and Cerys, and although Jake should have done some things differently, he wasn’t too bad. He was only being human, like everyone else in the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this cute rom-com. It was nothing special, but it was still cute. I recommend it if it suits your fancy. 🩷
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
I don’t remember anything you need to look out for. 🤭
Swearing: A little.
Spice: No–only kissing.
#TheFangirlProject #NetGalley
June 30, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
Beth Reekles, "the kissing booth," got me into reading, so of course I'll be reading everything she writes. Duh! Hahaha!
This book was SO GOOD!! I loved every aspect of it!
The plot twist😱
This makes me want to read/watch Of Wrath And Rune now😂 (I wish it was real. I'd probably fan girl over it, too)
Thank you, NetGalley.com, for the ARC! Make sure you pick this up when it comes out in November!!!
Beth Reekles, "the kissing booth," got me into reading, so of course I'll be reading everything she writes. Duh! Hahaha!
This book was SO GOOD!! I loved every aspect of it!
The plot twist😱
This makes me want to read/watch Of Wrath And Rune now😂 (I wish it was real. I'd probably fan girl over it, too)
Thank you, NetGalley.com, for the ARC! Make sure you pick this up when it comes out in November!!!
July 15, 2025
Read: June 30th - July 4th
Format: E-Book
Rating: 4 stars
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
I outright devoured this. Read over half the book in one day. Apparently just loved it that much. I am feral for any romance that is nerdy/fandomy, and this delivered. The only reason I docked a star is that I felt that there could have been a bit more built up on Cerys' side in terms of the first big romance moment. You could understand where it was coming from on the other side, but on hers? Ehhhh. But still, absolutely adored, and very much recommend!
Format: E-Book
Rating: 4 stars
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
I outright devoured this. Read over half the book in one day. Apparently just loved it that much. I am feral for any romance that is nerdy/fandomy, and this delivered. The only reason I docked a star is that I felt that there could have been a bit more built up on Cerys' side in terms of the first big romance moment. You could understand where it was coming from on the other side, but on hers? Ehhhh. But still, absolutely adored, and very much recommend!
July 5, 2025
The way I DEVOURED this book 😭 So much random fandom silliness and greatness. There's even outright AO3 segments! And Discord conversations! It knows its audience and FEEDS us 😭Also, Max is adorable. I want to ruffle his head. And also reassure Cerys that she's worth it just for who she is. So much cuteness and fandomness and just gaaaah, I need more books like this.
November 10, 2025
The Fangirl Project was cute and quirky, with a bit of a cosplay twist. Throughout, our narrator Cerys is vying to change her best friend’s opinion of her from friendly to more than friends. Reekles opens up this fun new world of Cosplay and Comic Con type events while simultaneously telling the story of a series of books made into a television series. It’s like you’re involved in multiple characters in multiple worlds. Pretty fun to get engrossed in. This is very sweet, spice level zero but I was so engrossed in both stories enfolding I didn’t miss it. There are discord chats that are funny also throughout the chapters. Makes this seem like a fun world to be involved in.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, these opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, these opinions are my own.
July 10, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
The Fangirl Project was a fun, fast read that gave major Wattpad energy, and as a former Wattpad user I freaking loved it. If you’ve ever had a delusional situationship with a guy who barely knows you exist and thought “I can totally make him love me if I learn everything about his favorite fill-in-the-blank,” then yeah… this book gets it and captures that delusion perfectly.
Cerys is chaotic and has that undeveloped-brain craziness and commitment to winning over Jake (like girl, breathe), but it made her feel real, who didn’t have that phase at some point. She’s messy, dramatic, and trying sooooo hard. And that makes it even sweeter when she starts realizing maybe her efforts are misplaced. Enter Max: fandom nerd, certified dimple-haver, and lowkey (maybe highkey) the real heart of the story. Their banter carried.
I do wish the story had dug a little deeper into Cerys’ character growth earlier on instead of saving it all for the end. Some of the dialogue felt a bit overexplained, and the fandom parts sometimes came off like someone Googled “how to write a con scene.” Still, there’s something super endearing about watching someone fall in love with a fandom (and maybe a person) they never saw coming. I know I have experienced that with my husband, as a certified-anime-hater I never imagined that I would fall into a few anime fandoms with him, and it was sweet to see that experience played out.
Would recommend if you like: fake identities online, fandom-to-lovers, or any book that feels like it was written by someone who lives on AO3. It’s cute and just the right amount of cringe for a YA book.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC
The Fangirl Project was a fun, fast read that gave major Wattpad energy, and as a former Wattpad user I freaking loved it. If you’ve ever had a delusional situationship with a guy who barely knows you exist and thought “I can totally make him love me if I learn everything about his favorite fill-in-the-blank,” then yeah… this book gets it and captures that delusion perfectly.
Cerys is chaotic and has that undeveloped-brain craziness and commitment to winning over Jake (like girl, breathe), but it made her feel real, who didn’t have that phase at some point. She’s messy, dramatic, and trying sooooo hard. And that makes it even sweeter when she starts realizing maybe her efforts are misplaced. Enter Max: fandom nerd, certified dimple-haver, and lowkey (maybe highkey) the real heart of the story. Their banter carried.
I do wish the story had dug a little deeper into Cerys’ character growth earlier on instead of saving it all for the end. Some of the dialogue felt a bit overexplained, and the fandom parts sometimes came off like someone Googled “how to write a con scene.” Still, there’s something super endearing about watching someone fall in love with a fandom (and maybe a person) they never saw coming. I know I have experienced that with my husband, as a certified-anime-hater I never imagined that I would fall into a few anime fandoms with him, and it was sweet to see that experience played out.
Would recommend if you like: fake identities online, fandom-to-lovers, or any book that feels like it was written by someone who lives on AO3. It’s cute and just the right amount of cringe for a YA book.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC
October 9, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Delacorte Romance for this e-galley. This is my personal review.
Cerys is determined to make her best friend, Jake, realize that she’s the right person for him. When Jake moves to a new school, Cerys decides to get closer to him by pretending to get into the tv show that he’s a MAJOR fanboy of. The only problem…Cerys isn’t a real fan. And she could never be caught liking something that weird and nerdy. What will people think? And to make matters worse? Jake has a new best friend that has Cerys feeling alike a third wheel. It’s okay though; Cerys is determined to make her plan work.
This was SUCH a fun Young Adult read for fangirls and non-fangirls alike. Cerys is an absolute mess…exactly the way most teenage girls are at her age. These characters were all so real and relatable in their own ways, and they all worked to convey the central theme that it’s okay (and even cool) to be your authentic self.
I think this is a relevant read that will ressonate with teen readers. Adult readers might get annoyed by the miscommunication trope, but I think it’s important within the context of the book.
If you’ve ever been called or felt “weird” for your interests, this book will be extra special. This comes out on 11/4/25. Definitely pick it up!!
Cerys is determined to make her best friend, Jake, realize that she’s the right person for him. When Jake moves to a new school, Cerys decides to get closer to him by pretending to get into the tv show that he’s a MAJOR fanboy of. The only problem…Cerys isn’t a real fan. And she could never be caught liking something that weird and nerdy. What will people think? And to make matters worse? Jake has a new best friend that has Cerys feeling alike a third wheel. It’s okay though; Cerys is determined to make her plan work.
This was SUCH a fun Young Adult read for fangirls and non-fangirls alike. Cerys is an absolute mess…exactly the way most teenage girls are at her age. These characters were all so real and relatable in their own ways, and they all worked to convey the central theme that it’s okay (and even cool) to be your authentic self.
I think this is a relevant read that will ressonate with teen readers. Adult readers might get annoyed by the miscommunication trope, but I think it’s important within the context of the book.
If you’ve ever been called or felt “weird” for your interests, this book will be extra special. This comes out on 11/4/25. Definitely pick it up!!
November 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouse for the advanced copy.
Rating: 3/5
I think someone younger would enjoy this more than I did. I found the fmc incredibly annoying and it was very easy to tell what was going on. I got the ick from some of it and I was very frustrated. Again, I think a younger audience would appreciate this more than I did!
Rating: 3/5
I think someone younger would enjoy this more than I did. I found the fmc incredibly annoying and it was very easy to tell what was going on. I got the ick from some of it and I was very frustrated. Again, I think a younger audience would appreciate this more than I did!
January 18, 2026
I love love loved this book. I was at a party on Friday when I was reading this, and if anyone saw me acting extremely antisocial, it was just because I was reading this and it was THAT good. (I'm also just super antisocial generally but I digress.) I am a simple girl, and perhaps my standards are not high, but this book absolutely blew them away with just how absolutely fun and cute it was. Proof that a book doesn't need to be deep to be good.
Characters (5 out of 5):
This book had excellent characters. I really liked Cerys (I will forgive that name simply because the book was so good), the main character--I thought she was funny but also relatable, and it was really easy to root for her. Even when she wasn't at her best (being rude or pessimistic), it still didn't make me hate her. In fact, I thought she was a really well-rounded character, and I liked that she even had any flaws in the first place.
Max, the love interest, was quite good as well. He was actually pretty similar to Cerys in a lot of ways, and I liked that he was different. By that, I mean that a lot of male leads in YA tend to be all cut from the same exact cloth, so it was nice to have a male lead who wasn't the sterotypical guy you can find in any other book. I'm also imagining him looking like Hyunjin from Stray Kids in my head, so that's great.
Honorable mentions for good characters go to Cerys friends, particularly Daphne and Anissa! The beginning of the book set up both of them to be very stereotypical (Daphne as a "popular mean girl" and Anissa as a "weirdo loner"), but not only did they end up not falling into those cliches, but they also had growth over the story in a way that many side characters in YA don't. I also really liked their relationships with Cerys. Friendships are something that always gets forgotten in YA romance, so it was nice to see them get their deserved page time, and not only that, but maintain good relationships with Cerys over the course of the story. Cerys's friends were also really great because they weren't stereotypical like side characters usually end up being.
The only character I wasn't as much into was Jake, mostly because I found him boring, and also thought he was not a very good friend. Throughout the entire book, it was very clear how little he actually cared about Cerys, and I felt like them making up at the end of the book like nothing had happened felt a little forced.
Plot (5 out of 5):
I thought the plot in this book was really fun! I feel like usually in this type of book, the girl is a nerd who gets into something popular to get a boy, so this was a fun reversal (popular girl gets into a "nerdy" hobby). In fact, as a whole, I really liked how non-stereotypical this book was, especially since it's one that seems like it will be very cliche on first glance.
I also LOVED how positively the main character's female friendships were shown. Usually in a book where the FMC has a male best friend, she'll end up having like no female friends at all (and usually comes off kind of "not like other girls"-y), so I was really happy this wasn't the case in this book! Not only does Cerys easily make friends with other girls, but her friendships are very positive and she doesn't look down on her friends simply for being female or different than her. On the flipside, her friends are also very supportive of her when it comes to both Jake and Max, instead of being jealous like what usually happens in YA. I will also say, I really appreciated Daphne and her other friends, because I really thought they were going to end up like wannabe Plastics, but they weren't! They did make fun of Anissa in the beginning for being a loner, but they not only apologized and admitted they were wrong, but they became friends with Anissa as well. And when Daphne and Cerys had a fight at the party, they immediately apologized and mutually acknowledged wrongdoing and went on being friends. It just felt very positive as a whole.
ALSO. I loved how Cerys became a fan Of Wrath and Rune. I mean, it was a given, it's literally in the synopsis, but it was fun to read about! And as an extra positive for avoiding stereotypes, I really liked how her enjoyment of the series wasn't framed entirely around Jake and Max.
Setting (3 out of 5):
Not really applicable. It was probably England or something idek.
Romance (5 out of 5);
Sooooon cute!! Very enemies-to-lovers, kind of You've Got Mail-ish, loved it. It was giving 2000s rom-com vibes, and I wanted to die of happiness.
It was obvious from the very beginning that it was Max that Cerys was talking to on Discord, not Jake, and I'm honestly surprised she didn't figure it out earlier, given the fact that her and Jake have been friends since they were kids, but I can forgive that for the sake of the story. It was also a little weird, because I understand Cerys still being cold to Max in person, given that she doesn't know that it's him she's been talking to, but I didn't understand why Max was still being cold to her, since he knew that it was her on Discord. Either way, I can overlook that.
I thought that Cerys and Max just had a really great dynamic. I liked how they initially did not get along at all, but gradually warmed up to each other other the course of the story. I also liked that it wasn't super instant-love or anything. Sometimes with this particular trope, it'll be all "oh, I hate you but omg you're so hot", but Cerys wasn't instantly lusting over Max the second she met him. In fact, she thought he was a weirdo for probably half of the book, which was kind of a fun change in pace.
I don't know what section to put this in, but I'll just add as an aside that I immediately called that Jake wasn't in love with Cerys, but was in love with Max instead. I'm actually very proud of myself, not gonna lie.
Writing (5 out of 5):
I feel the need to mention yet again how delightfully non-cliche this book was. My compliments to the author. I just in general really enjoyed how this book was written. I was actually really surprised when I learned that she got her start on Wattpad. (Obviously no offense to Wattpad or Wattpad writers, but it's not exactly known as a hub of fine literature, if you know what I mean).
Overall, yeah, it was a really well-written book! It was funny, it was cute. Very light and not very serious, but sometimes you just want a book like that.
Average rating of categories: 4.6 stars
My rating: 5 stars!
If you couldn't tell by my very long-winded review, I really loved this book! If you're a proud nerd who also loves rom-coms, you should read this!! I for one definitely will be checking out more books by this author. I'm kind of curious about The Kissing Booth now, I wonder if that is the same level of quality that she's at now...
Characters (5 out of 5):
This book had excellent characters. I really liked Cerys (I will forgive that name simply because the book was so good), the main character--I thought she was funny but also relatable, and it was really easy to root for her. Even when she wasn't at her best (being rude or pessimistic), it still didn't make me hate her. In fact, I thought she was a really well-rounded character, and I liked that she even had any flaws in the first place.
Max, the love interest, was quite good as well. He was actually pretty similar to Cerys in a lot of ways, and I liked that he was different. By that, I mean that a lot of male leads in YA tend to be all cut from the same exact cloth, so it was nice to have a male lead who wasn't the sterotypical guy you can find in any other book. I'm also imagining him looking like Hyunjin from Stray Kids in my head, so that's great.
Honorable mentions for good characters go to Cerys friends, particularly Daphne and Anissa! The beginning of the book set up both of them to be very stereotypical (Daphne as a "popular mean girl" and Anissa as a "weirdo loner"), but not only did they end up not falling into those cliches, but they also had growth over the story in a way that many side characters in YA don't. I also really liked their relationships with Cerys. Friendships are something that always gets forgotten in YA romance, so it was nice to see them get their deserved page time, and not only that, but maintain good relationships with Cerys over the course of the story. Cerys's friends were also really great because they weren't stereotypical like side characters usually end up being.
The only character I wasn't as much into was Jake, mostly because I found him boring, and also thought he was not a very good friend. Throughout the entire book, it was very clear how little he actually cared about Cerys, and I felt like them making up at the end of the book like nothing had happened felt a little forced.
Plot (5 out of 5):
I thought the plot in this book was really fun! I feel like usually in this type of book, the girl is a nerd who gets into something popular to get a boy, so this was a fun reversal (popular girl gets into a "nerdy" hobby). In fact, as a whole, I really liked how non-stereotypical this book was, especially since it's one that seems like it will be very cliche on first glance.
I also LOVED how positively the main character's female friendships were shown. Usually in a book where the FMC has a male best friend, she'll end up having like no female friends at all (and usually comes off kind of "not like other girls"-y), so I was really happy this wasn't the case in this book! Not only does Cerys easily make friends with other girls, but her friendships are very positive and she doesn't look down on her friends simply for being female or different than her. On the flipside, her friends are also very supportive of her when it comes to both Jake and Max, instead of being jealous like what usually happens in YA. I will also say, I really appreciated Daphne and her other friends, because I really thought they were going to end up like wannabe Plastics, but they weren't! They did make fun of Anissa in the beginning for being a loner, but they not only apologized and admitted they were wrong, but they became friends with Anissa as well. And when Daphne and Cerys had a fight at the party, they immediately apologized and mutually acknowledged wrongdoing and went on being friends. It just felt very positive as a whole.
ALSO. I loved how Cerys became a fan Of Wrath and Rune. I mean, it was a given, it's literally in the synopsis, but it was fun to read about! And as an extra positive for avoiding stereotypes, I really liked how her enjoyment of the series wasn't framed entirely around Jake and Max.
Setting (3 out of 5):
Not really applicable. It was probably England or something idek.
Romance (5 out of 5);
Sooooon cute!! Very enemies-to-lovers, kind of You've Got Mail-ish, loved it. It was giving 2000s rom-com vibes, and I wanted to die of happiness.
It was obvious from the very beginning that it was Max that Cerys was talking to on Discord, not Jake, and I'm honestly surprised she didn't figure it out earlier, given the fact that her and Jake have been friends since they were kids, but I can forgive that for the sake of the story. It was also a little weird, because I understand Cerys still being cold to Max in person, given that she doesn't know that it's him she's been talking to, but I didn't understand why Max was still being cold to her, since he knew that it was her on Discord. Either way, I can overlook that.
I thought that Cerys and Max just had a really great dynamic. I liked how they initially did not get along at all, but gradually warmed up to each other other the course of the story. I also liked that it wasn't super instant-love or anything. Sometimes with this particular trope, it'll be all "oh, I hate you but omg you're so hot", but Cerys wasn't instantly lusting over Max the second she met him. In fact, she thought he was a weirdo for probably half of the book, which was kind of a fun change in pace.
I don't know what section to put this in, but I'll just add as an aside that I immediately called that Jake wasn't in love with Cerys, but was in love with Max instead. I'm actually very proud of myself, not gonna lie.
Writing (5 out of 5):
I feel the need to mention yet again how delightfully non-cliche this book was. My compliments to the author. I just in general really enjoyed how this book was written. I was actually really surprised when I learned that she got her start on Wattpad. (Obviously no offense to Wattpad or Wattpad writers, but it's not exactly known as a hub of fine literature, if you know what I mean).
Overall, yeah, it was a really well-written book! It was funny, it was cute. Very light and not very serious, but sometimes you just want a book like that.
Average rating of categories: 4.6 stars
My rating: 5 stars!
If you couldn't tell by my very long-winded review, I really loved this book! If you're a proud nerd who also loves rom-coms, you should read this!! I for one definitely will be checking out more books by this author. I'm kind of curious about The Kissing Booth now, I wonder if that is the same level of quality that she's at now...
August 23, 2025
Ok so at first I was really struggling with the FMC and her complete hatred for fandom. It honestly felt a little more insulting than it needed to be, she fr was acting like she was on drugs. However the overall message was really good.
I really enjoyed the other 2/3rds of the book. I really loved max and the growing friendship between cerys and Anissa and then Chloe at the end was just the cherry on top the cake!!!!
And while I did 10000000% call what was up Jake’s ass the whole book I do not forgive him for being a dick. He was so mean and was legit cutting cerys out. Even knowing why he was doing it, I’m still so pissed because he was mean
Anyway happy ending is all that matters
I really enjoyed the other 2/3rds of the book. I really loved max and the growing friendship between cerys and Anissa and then Chloe at the end was just the cherry on top the cake!!!!
And while I did 10000000% call what was up Jake’s ass the whole book I do not forgive him for being a dick. He was so mean and was legit cutting cerys out. Even knowing why he was doing it, I’m still so pissed because he was mean
Anyway happy ending is all that matters
July 21, 2025
OMG??? I LOVEDD reading this book! I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would! The characters and the way they grow and develop was so wonderful to read about, the plot was so interesting, and the tension was literally everything I needed in my life.
When Cerys' crush and best friend Jake moves to a new college, Cerys decides to do whatever it takes to keep them close. Even if it means joining a fandom for a nerdy, popular fantasy show called 'Of Wrath and Rune'. However, when Cerys meets Jake's new best friend Max she realizes she needs to try even harder to keep Jake's friendship which involves joining a discord, going to fandom conventions, and even writing a few fan fictions. What makes her whole plan even more complicated is that she begins to actually... like'Of Wrath and Rune' and maybe enjoy talking to ssuprsing someone on the Discord even more.
LOVED✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹
• The plot of this book was so entertaining! There's so many subplots for the main plot that made this book even more interesting. The entire book isn't just about Cerys' plan to stay close and eventually date Jake, it also involves her complicated home life, her troubles with friends at school, and personal insecurities.
• Max. For the majority of the book all I wanted to do was to shake Cerys and make her realize how PERFECT this man was for her. She would constantly be mistaking the way he acted around her which would make her think that he hates her when it was so clear he just truly cares about her. He's so imperfectly perfect and one of the main reasons I enjoyed this book so much.
NOT QUITE LOVED✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹
• There are so many references in this book. Don't get me wrong, I will always enjoy a movie or show reference here and there but at some points in this book it would just get annoying. This is just a tiny complaint, but I definitely feel like the author could reduce the amount of references.
All in all, I had such a good time reading this book and definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a good romcom! 🤗
Thank you so much Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for accepting my request for an ARC in exchange for a review!
➷₊✧˚★★★★.25꒱
When Cerys' crush and best friend Jake moves to a new college, Cerys decides to do whatever it takes to keep them close. Even if it means joining a fandom for a nerdy, popular fantasy show called 'Of Wrath and Rune'. However, when Cerys meets Jake's new best friend Max she realizes she needs to try even harder to keep Jake's friendship which involves joining a discord, going to fandom conventions, and even writing a few fan fictions. What makes her whole plan even more complicated is that she begins to actually... like'Of Wrath and Rune' and maybe enjoy talking to ssuprsing someone on the Discord even more.
LOVED✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹
• The plot of this book was so entertaining! There's so many subplots for the main plot that made this book even more interesting. The entire book isn't just about Cerys' plan to stay close and eventually date Jake, it also involves her complicated home life, her troubles with friends at school, and personal insecurities.
• Max. For the majority of the book all I wanted to do was to shake Cerys and make her realize how PERFECT this man was for her. She would constantly be mistaking the way he acted around her which would make her think that he hates her when it was so clear he just truly cares about her. He's so imperfectly perfect and one of the main reasons I enjoyed this book so much.
NOT QUITE LOVED✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹
• There are so many references in this book. Don't get me wrong, I will always enjoy a movie or show reference here and there but at some points in this book it would just get annoying. This is just a tiny complaint, but I definitely feel like the author could reduce the amount of references.
All in all, I had such a good time reading this book and definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a good romcom! 🤗
Thank you so much Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for accepting my request for an ARC in exchange for a review!
➷₊✧˚★★★★.25꒱
October 27, 2025
The Fangirl Project follows Cerys, whose long-time crush Jake heads off to a new college. Realizing her time is running out to turn their friendship into something more, she decides the best way to catch his attention is to join him in his favorite fandom, this massive fantasy series called Of Wrath and Rune. Cue Cerys forcing herself to watch the show, read the books, join a discord server and attend conventions while navigating the strange new world of fandom life… all while dealing with Jake’s new friend Max, who’s irritatingly charming, impossibly familiar, and always in the way.
Now, I get that Cerys’ whole “I’ll do anything for my crush” personality is kind of the point, but oh my god she’s insufferable. Her desperate need to fit in — paired with how judgmental she is toward literally everyone (especially Max) — had me wanting to shove her into a wall. That one might slightly be on me because I am a fangirl and I actually love the things I obsess over, but watching her fake it while side-eyeing people who genuinely care? Not for me.
And don’t even get me started on how she doesn’t realize who she’s talking to online. Girl. Please. Be. So. Freaking. For. Real.
As for Of Wrath and Rune — the fictional series within the book — it’s so boring I started skimming every time it came up. I couldn’t bring myself to care about the fanfics or the lore. It felt like a whole load of bleh instead of something that was supposed to make me understand the appeal of fandom.
Overall, The Fangirl Project had potential, but between a main character I wanted to shake and a fandom world that bored me to tears, I ended up more frustrated than entertained.
Thank You to NetGalley & Random House Children's Books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
PS: within the first two chapters my sole thought was, oh Jake has the fattest crush on Max.
Now, I get that Cerys’ whole “I’ll do anything for my crush” personality is kind of the point, but oh my god she’s insufferable. Her desperate need to fit in — paired with how judgmental she is toward literally everyone (especially Max) — had me wanting to shove her into a wall. That one might slightly be on me because I am a fangirl and I actually love the things I obsess over, but watching her fake it while side-eyeing people who genuinely care? Not for me.
And don’t even get me started on how she doesn’t realize who she’s talking to online. Girl. Please. Be. So. Freaking. For. Real.
As for Of Wrath and Rune — the fictional series within the book — it’s so boring I started skimming every time it came up. I couldn’t bring myself to care about the fanfics or the lore. It felt like a whole load of bleh instead of something that was supposed to make me understand the appeal of fandom.
Overall, The Fangirl Project had potential, but between a main character I wanted to shake and a fandom world that bored me to tears, I ended up more frustrated than entertained.
Thank You to NetGalley & Random House Children's Books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
PS: within the first two chapters my sole thought was, oh Jake has the fattest crush on Max.
October 19, 2025
This turned out to be such a cute YA romance! Rating it 3.5 ⭐️ I loved the way Beth wrote Cerys. She perfectly captured what it’s like to be a teenager trying to figure out life, friendships, and first love.
Cerys is your typical teen girl, navigating her growing feelings for her best friend, Jake. In an effort to spend more time with him and show her feelings for him , she dives into a fantasy fandom that he’s part of. But when Jake introduces his new friend, Max, things get a little complicated. The dynamic between the three of them was engaging and full of those awkward teenage moments that felt so real.
I really appreciated the deeper themes woven throughout, especially Cerys’s growth as a person. Watching her evolve from the beginning to the end was one of my favorite parts of the book.
A sweet, playful, and thoughtful read — and the focus on the fantasy fandom element made it even more enjoyable!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC for my honest review.
Cerys is your typical teen girl, navigating her growing feelings for her best friend, Jake. In an effort to spend more time with him and show her feelings for him , she dives into a fantasy fandom that he’s part of. But when Jake introduces his new friend, Max, things get a little complicated. The dynamic between the three of them was engaging and full of those awkward teenage moments that felt so real.
I really appreciated the deeper themes woven throughout, especially Cerys’s growth as a person. Watching her evolve from the beginning to the end was one of my favorite parts of the book.
A sweet, playful, and thoughtful read — and the focus on the fantasy fandom element made it even more enjoyable!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC for my honest review.
October 20, 2025
The Fangirl Project is a fun Y.A book that covers in an authentic way all the nuances and angst of being a teenager: how do I attract the boy I like, how do I break into and become part of a group of girlfriends, how do I navigate my parent's separation/divorce, and how do I figure out exactly who I am?!?
Even though the issues are universal, the author tackles all of them in an interesting and sometimes unique way. I enjoyed the "Fangirl" aspect of the book - even though I am not familiar with the Comic Con world.
This was an easy entertaining read and I would definitely recommend it to teens.
Thank you to NetGalley, Beth Reekles, and Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Fangirl Project will be available for purchase on 11/4/2025.
3.5 stars
Even though the issues are universal, the author tackles all of them in an interesting and sometimes unique way. I enjoyed the "Fangirl" aspect of the book - even though I am not familiar with the Comic Con world.
This was an easy entertaining read and I would definitely recommend it to teens.
Thank you to NetGalley, Beth Reekles, and Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Fangirl Project will be available for purchase on 11/4/2025.
3.5 stars
November 23, 2025
3.5 rounded up!
The first half of this book was probably a 3, but then it really picked up at the end and I'd give that a 4. So I'd say it averages out to 3.5. I really enjoyed it and thought Reekles did a really good job of portraying the teenage psyche. This book is definitely YA so if you are not into that you won't enjoy it. But man did I relate to the messiness of those teenage years. Trying to change yourself to fit in with people, agonizing over outfits, all of it.
Overall I really enjoyed this Rom-Com. And as a girly who learned to embrace my nerdiness after high school I really appreciated how the book emphasized you can be whoever you want.
The first half of this book was probably a 3, but then it really picked up at the end and I'd give that a 4. So I'd say it averages out to 3.5. I really enjoyed it and thought Reekles did a really good job of portraying the teenage psyche. This book is definitely YA so if you are not into that you won't enjoy it. But man did I relate to the messiness of those teenage years. Trying to change yourself to fit in with people, agonizing over outfits, all of it.
Overall I really enjoyed this Rom-Com. And as a girly who learned to embrace my nerdiness after high school I really appreciated how the book emphasized you can be whoever you want.
September 9, 2025
This was such a cute read.
This coming of age where Cerys finds who. She just wants to fit in with the popular girls but also doesn't want to lose her best friend. When she finally realizes she is trying to hard to fit in with everyone and a fight with Jake, she realized she doesn't have to change who she is to be liked.
I think this novel will hit home for a lot of young adults who are just trying to find there way and to fit the molds.
Thank you so much Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This coming of age where Cerys finds who. She just wants to fit in with the popular girls but also doesn't want to lose her best friend. When she finally realizes she is trying to hard to fit in with everyone and a fight with Jake, she realized she doesn't have to change who she is to be liked.
I think this novel will hit home for a lot of young adults who are just trying to find there way and to fit the molds.
Thank you so much Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 20, 2025
Cerys' crush on her friend Jake is on a deadline. He's leaving soon for college and she just knows that if he can see her as more than a friend, they'll have a great relationship. She decides to jump in to his hobby in his favorite fandom so that he can be impressed with a shared passion. The only problems is that it's embarrassing and he already has a fellow fan in his new (and annoying!) friend, Max.
I hadn't read The Kissing Booth but I've seen the adorable show which prompted me to pick up this book. (I know! It's a crime to watch before reading but it couldn't be helped. 😉) I think this book would translate equally well to the screen and be such a fun watch. The self discovery plotline for Cerys is thoughtfully done and I just loved how her eyes opened to her prejudices and explored looking beyond what is seen at face value.
A tandem read with narration from Bethan Rose Young was certainly entertaining. I love how an accent can take me to a location easier than anything else.
Thank you PRHA & Get Underlined for the gifted copies. All thoughts are my own.
I hadn't read The Kissing Booth but I've seen the adorable show which prompted me to pick up this book. (I know! It's a crime to watch before reading but it couldn't be helped. 😉) I think this book would translate equally well to the screen and be such a fun watch. The self discovery plotline for Cerys is thoughtfully done and I just loved how her eyes opened to her prejudices and explored looking beyond what is seen at face value.
A tandem read with narration from Bethan Rose Young was certainly entertaining. I love how an accent can take me to a location easier than anything else.
Thank you PRHA & Get Underlined for the gifted copies. All thoughts are my own.
October 5, 2025
This was such a cute YA read! It captures teenage insecurity and fandom culture in equal measure and the characters were easy to root for. I felt like the central You've Got Mail-type mixup dragged on a bit too long but overall it was a good, quick read.
October 17, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up. I love this author, and I really enjoyed this book. The characters are great, and I loved the nerdom being embraced in this story. also such a great story of acceptance and coming of age finding oneself as you grow. beautifully done. I highly recommend this book to ya readers.
February 12, 2026
WOW.
Let me tell you, I did not get off to a good start with this book.
I thought the premise was dumb and not thought out but HOLY WOW WAS I WRONG.
Beautiful. Magical. This is the first romance book I’ve ever read and boy oh boy. Just read it. (And trust the process PLEASE)
Let me tell you, I did not get off to a good start with this book.
I thought the premise was dumb and not thought out but HOLY WOW WAS I WRONG.
Beautiful. Magical. This is the first romance book I’ve ever read and boy oh boy. Just read it. (And trust the process PLEASE)
October 28, 2025
DNF at Ch 3….sorry but too juvenile and the fanfic genre is just not for me…:/
January 4, 2026
I love Beth’s writing! Such a cute, fun read!
November 4, 2025
Did I stay up til 2 AM reading this while kicking my feet and giggling? SO WHAT IF I DID. It’s basically if Twelfth Knight and Spoiler Alert had a YA baby (and maybe some of Fangirl, too). If you love a cutie YA romcom or romcoms in general, you’ll love this. 💞
TYSM to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for the copy xo
TYSM to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for the copy xo
November 7, 2025
“I don’t think it’s self-centered to want to live my life on my own terms. ”
After Cerys’ best friend turned crush, Jake, moves away, she’s worried their relationship won’t survive the distance. In an attempt to work around the miles between them—and to catch Jake’s eye—Cerys decides to dive into the one thing Jake won’t stop talking about: Of Wrath and Rune (OWAR), a popular fantasy fandom. But when Jake introduces her to his new best friend Max, an OWAR superfan, Cerys starts to wonder if she’s in over her head. Still, determined to spend more time with Jake, she keeps colliding paths with Max and the fandom. In the months she spends watching the show and immersing herself in every aspect of the fandom, Cerys discovers unexpected connections—and feelings—in the process.
Despite its promising premise, The Fangirl Project ultimately fell flat for me. While I appreciated the incorporation of multimedia elements—like texts, DMs, and lists—that added some variety to the storytelling, the rest of the book didn’t quite hold up. There were far too many pop culture references for my personal preference, which at times pulled me out of the story and may make the book seem dated to future readers. The humor also felt a bit forced and millennial in tone, making it difficult to fully connect with the characters. I found it a bit hard to care for the fan fiction Cerys was writing since I didn’t identify with any aspects of OWAR, and I found Cerys herself to be irritating and frustrating. She was not a good friend to Anissa nor Daphne, or anyone else for that matter. Though there was potential for an exploration of Cerys’ relationship with her parents, and her mom and dad’s relationship with each other, that subplot was left largely unexplored. There was some promising buildup when they were interacting peacefully and with familiarity that made Cerys uncomfortable but it ultimately led nowhere. Instead, Reekles seemed to focus more on Cerys’ complaints about her life and her parents’ actions. On another note, the romance was predictable, and although I was prepared for it, the miscommunication trope made it even less enjoyable. Both love interests felt one-dimensional, and that made it really hard to feel invested in Cerys’ relationship with either Jake or Max. The banter between Cerys and Max was borderline painful and seemed as forced as her interactions with Jake. While I appreciated the novel’s message about embracing authenticity, it wasn’t enough to make up for the flat characters and unoriginal plot.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
After Cerys’ best friend turned crush, Jake, moves away, she’s worried their relationship won’t survive the distance. In an attempt to work around the miles between them—and to catch Jake’s eye—Cerys decides to dive into the one thing Jake won’t stop talking about: Of Wrath and Rune (OWAR), a popular fantasy fandom. But when Jake introduces her to his new best friend Max, an OWAR superfan, Cerys starts to wonder if she’s in over her head. Still, determined to spend more time with Jake, she keeps colliding paths with Max and the fandom. In the months she spends watching the show and immersing herself in every aspect of the fandom, Cerys discovers unexpected connections—and feelings—in the process.
Despite its promising premise, The Fangirl Project ultimately fell flat for me. While I appreciated the incorporation of multimedia elements—like texts, DMs, and lists—that added some variety to the storytelling, the rest of the book didn’t quite hold up. There were far too many pop culture references for my personal preference, which at times pulled me out of the story and may make the book seem dated to future readers. The humor also felt a bit forced and millennial in tone, making it difficult to fully connect with the characters. I found it a bit hard to care for the fan fiction Cerys was writing since I didn’t identify with any aspects of OWAR, and I found Cerys herself to be irritating and frustrating. She was not a good friend to Anissa nor Daphne, or anyone else for that matter. Though there was potential for an exploration of Cerys’ relationship with her parents, and her mom and dad’s relationship with each other, that subplot was left largely unexplored. There was some promising buildup when they were interacting peacefully and with familiarity that made Cerys uncomfortable but it ultimately led nowhere. Instead, Reekles seemed to focus more on Cerys’ complaints about her life and her parents’ actions. On another note, the romance was predictable, and although I was prepared for it, the miscommunication trope made it even less enjoyable. Both love interests felt one-dimensional, and that made it really hard to feel invested in Cerys’ relationship with either Jake or Max. The banter between Cerys and Max was borderline painful and seemed as forced as her interactions with Jake. While I appreciated the novel’s message about embracing authenticity, it wasn’t enough to make up for the flat characters and unoriginal plot.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
February 4, 2026
Very cute coming of age with romance, friendships, fandom, & finding who you are/where you fit!
Very cute coming of age story about Cerys, a 16 year old girl who has a major crush on her best friend Jake who is moving. To prove that she should be his girlfriend she creates a plan to win him over by becoming a fan of his favorite fantasy show/books-The Fangirl Project. She feels like they’re drifting apart with them both going to different schools for their A-levels and him moving across town and spending time with a new friend from his new school & soccer team named Max. Max is also very into the Of Wrath and Ruin series and even cosplays, & encourages Jake to as well. They all attend a comic con together where Cerys feels like the third wheel and feels like she is being pushed out by Max. She judges him a bit harshly as he does to her as well. She joins a Discord channel surrounding the series with locals to get even closer to Jake & starts doing watch parties with the guys and getting into it. While at school though she is desperate to fit in with girls who seem very poised and popular and molds herself to fit with their clique. She begins to seek their advice in Jake and what to do about Max being the third wheel. She also falls in love with the series and really finds some friends in the Discord and begins to make fan art and start writing fanfics based on it. She has a private message thread with user runicrascal and feels like she and Jake talk more deeply through that than when they’re texting or spending time together. She is also dealing with her parent’s divorce and how they go from fighting to this weird vibe like they’re possibly getting together again. She also befriends the quiet “weird” girl at school who recognizes her art to be about the series but feels like she has to keep her friendship with a secret from the cool clique and definitely needs to hide the fandom she is now very into. It all comes to a boiling point at a house part Jake invites her to, Max is there & she brings Anissa, only to run into one of the cool girls and feel like she needs to hide Anissa being there. She ends up kissing Max, telling of her cool friend Daphne, and Jake feels betrayed by Max & her kissing and they both say awful things to one another. She does sort through her feelings & need to fit in and from the advice of rascalruin embraces who she really is and tells all her friends her truths and apologizes to those who need it. She gets her guy in the end & also makes some great friends with varied interests. It was super cute, very teenage angst and trying to find where you fit in & who you are. I really liked it even though I knew pretty early on how that triangle would play. Very cute and enjoyable!
Very cute coming of age story about Cerys, a 16 year old girl who has a major crush on her best friend Jake who is moving. To prove that she should be his girlfriend she creates a plan to win him over by becoming a fan of his favorite fantasy show/books-The Fangirl Project. She feels like they’re drifting apart with them both going to different schools for their A-levels and him moving across town and spending time with a new friend from his new school & soccer team named Max. Max is also very into the Of Wrath and Ruin series and even cosplays, & encourages Jake to as well. They all attend a comic con together where Cerys feels like the third wheel and feels like she is being pushed out by Max. She judges him a bit harshly as he does to her as well. She joins a Discord channel surrounding the series with locals to get even closer to Jake & starts doing watch parties with the guys and getting into it. While at school though she is desperate to fit in with girls who seem very poised and popular and molds herself to fit with their clique. She begins to seek their advice in Jake and what to do about Max being the third wheel. She also falls in love with the series and really finds some friends in the Discord and begins to make fan art and start writing fanfics based on it. She has a private message thread with user runicrascal and feels like she and Jake talk more deeply through that than when they’re texting or spending time together. She is also dealing with her parent’s divorce and how they go from fighting to this weird vibe like they’re possibly getting together again. She also befriends the quiet “weird” girl at school who recognizes her art to be about the series but feels like she has to keep her friendship with a secret from the cool clique and definitely needs to hide the fandom she is now very into. It all comes to a boiling point at a house part Jake invites her to, Max is there & she brings Anissa, only to run into one of the cool girls and feel like she needs to hide Anissa being there. She ends up kissing Max, telling of her cool friend Daphne, and Jake feels betrayed by Max & her kissing and they both say awful things to one another. She does sort through her feelings & need to fit in and from the advice of rascalruin embraces who she really is and tells all her friends her truths and apologizes to those who need it. She gets her guy in the end & also makes some great friends with varied interests. It was super cute, very teenage angst and trying to find where you fit in & who you are. I really liked it even though I knew pretty early on how that triangle would play. Very cute and enjoyable!
February 14, 2026
I enjoyed the story but I also felt like it took way too long for the eventual reveal. Cerys isn’t the best character either. She gets better but her overall judgy demeanor is very prickly. Not just with her friends but also her parents. Honestly I felt like all of the characters were very judgy in this way. I wasn’t super drawn into the story but it kept me interested enough to get through it. Admittedly the fangirl aspect was a bit much. Between the show and the books she doesn’t actually read. Jake’s sexuality being questioned felt like a cop out tbh. Because obviously for stories sake they have to stay friends but if he’s straight it doesn’t land the same I guess. Over all I enjoyed it, it had some funny bits. Particularly the “gumball” line. I just don’t love it. While it wraps up okay and everyone kind of realizes they need to stop looking down on things they don’t understand it’s not my absolute favorite.
Favorite lines:
And, like, what’s the alternative? Tell him I have a massive crush on him and I think we’d be great together, risk total rejection, and lose the best person in my life for good because I’ve made it too awkward between us?
I don’t care about elves and sorcerers and trolls and faeries, and I really don’t want to spend my whole Saturday hanging out with people who do.
What’s “hello” in the face of five years of friendship?
It was the first time I had this pang in my chest like, I want you to be in love with me, though.
After all, what’s five minutes and a disappointed look from a teacher compared to two entire years of loneliness?
“You’ll….come with me?” “I will” “until the end”
Warmth blooms in my chest, and I say, only half a joke “until the end?” He gives me another quick hug. “Until the end”
That’s weirdly morbid. And also, absolutely true.
I am and I’m sure make will see it any day now such a catch.
Alas, our tall, dark, not at all handsome companion knows not of these pains, does he?
Is this truly what my life’s come to? Secondhand elf ears from a boy who’s practically my archnemesis in my quest to prove myself to jake?
Well, if I’ve learned one thing from all those rom coms, it’s that a little dent in my pride and dignity is a small price to pay for true love.
We might stop wasting our time squabbling instead of seeking answers.
Besides, no matter how flattering the uniform is, it cannot make up for such a heinous personality.
I cannot throw it all away for a boy who barely even speaks to me.
We are all trying to do the right thing for those who matter most to us. I cannot blame them that their path looks different than mine.
I don’t mind a bit of chivalry now and then.
Favorite lines:
And, like, what’s the alternative? Tell him I have a massive crush on him and I think we’d be great together, risk total rejection, and lose the best person in my life for good because I’ve made it too awkward between us?
I don’t care about elves and sorcerers and trolls and faeries, and I really don’t want to spend my whole Saturday hanging out with people who do.
What’s “hello” in the face of five years of friendship?
It was the first time I had this pang in my chest like, I want you to be in love with me, though.
After all, what’s five minutes and a disappointed look from a teacher compared to two entire years of loneliness?
“You’ll….come with me?” “I will” “until the end”
Warmth blooms in my chest, and I say, only half a joke “until the end?” He gives me another quick hug. “Until the end”
That’s weirdly morbid. And also, absolutely true.
I am and I’m sure make will see it any day now such a catch.
Alas, our tall, dark, not at all handsome companion knows not of these pains, does he?
Is this truly what my life’s come to? Secondhand elf ears from a boy who’s practically my archnemesis in my quest to prove myself to jake?
Well, if I’ve learned one thing from all those rom coms, it’s that a little dent in my pride and dignity is a small price to pay for true love.
We might stop wasting our time squabbling instead of seeking answers.
Besides, no matter how flattering the uniform is, it cannot make up for such a heinous personality.
I cannot throw it all away for a boy who barely even speaks to me.
We are all trying to do the right thing for those who matter most to us. I cannot blame them that their path looks different than mine.
I don’t mind a bit of chivalry now and then.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2025
While I primarily read YA and middle grade books, I almost never have a, “I’m too old for this” reaction when reading a book. That was my impression of this one, unfortunately.
First there’s Cerys’s desperate attempts to win Jake over and her attempts to do that by changing who she is. Yes, I know that’s a thing teenagers do, but I found it annoying and overdone. I also hated her early descriptions of how stupid and obnoxious it was to be a fan of fantasy things. I get that she learns better and part of her arc is learning to embrace what she enjoys regardless of what anyone else things, but… in this day and age, fantasy is more mainstream than weird. I wish the series had been more interesting to read about to make fandom seem more appealing.
Cerys is insufferable for half the book. She isn’t nice, is super judgemental, and is so wildly insecure that I’m not sure why I’m supposed to be rooting for her. A lot of her character growth came too late and was somehow overexplained.
The book is also just painfully predictable. There’s a common format to the “communicating without realizing who it is” trope, and I usually give it a lot of grace because I love the trope. For some reason, this iteration of it just… annoyed me and made me feel like Cerys was the stupidest person on the planet.
I appreciate that being a teenager can be messy, and new friends and friend groups shifting can be complicated and difficult. Overall, though, the lessons felt too heavyhanded and the romance doesn’t really work for me (especially considering she doesn’t even know who she’s falling in love with). The hating Max to loving him also happened super fast.
Overall, just extremely predictable, annoying characters, and very heavyhanded with the “just love what you love” message. It wasn’t terrible, and it’s a light read for when you don’t want to think about what you’re reading. I think a good YA book should be appealing to anyone, but I think this one really is best read just by teenagers. Even then, there are better books I can recommend on both discovering fandom and the you’ve got mail trope.
First there’s Cerys’s desperate attempts to win Jake over and her attempts to do that by changing who she is. Yes, I know that’s a thing teenagers do, but I found it annoying and overdone. I also hated her early descriptions of how stupid and obnoxious it was to be a fan of fantasy things. I get that she learns better and part of her arc is learning to embrace what she enjoys regardless of what anyone else things, but… in this day and age, fantasy is more mainstream than weird. I wish the series had been more interesting to read about to make fandom seem more appealing.
Cerys is insufferable for half the book. She isn’t nice, is super judgemental, and is so wildly insecure that I’m not sure why I’m supposed to be rooting for her. A lot of her character growth came too late and was somehow overexplained.
The book is also just painfully predictable. There’s a common format to the “communicating without realizing who it is” trope, and I usually give it a lot of grace because I love the trope. For some reason, this iteration of it just… annoyed me and made me feel like Cerys was the stupidest person on the planet.
I appreciate that being a teenager can be messy, and new friends and friend groups shifting can be complicated and difficult. Overall, though, the lessons felt too heavyhanded and the romance doesn’t really work for me (especially considering she doesn’t even know who she’s falling in love with). The hating Max to loving him also happened super fast.
Overall, just extremely predictable, annoying characters, and very heavyhanded with the “just love what you love” message. It wasn’t terrible, and it’s a light read for when you don’t want to think about what you’re reading. I think a good YA book should be appealing to anyone, but I think this one really is best read just by teenagers. Even then, there are better books I can recommend on both discovering fandom and the you’ve got mail trope.
November 4, 2025
Beth Reekles really does have a knack for correctly projecting exactly what goes on in a teenage girl’s head. The overthinking, self-esteem issues, all of it.
It threw me back to high school and when I was afraid to tell any of my friends that I was a massive fan of One Direction and even wrote fanfics. As a teenage girl, people finding that out feels like the end of the world.
I found myself getting annoyed with the main character, Cerys, a lot but only because it really is so cringe how little we thought of ourselves at that age.
“The Fangirl Project” is her secret plan to get her best friend, Jake, to see her as more than just a friend and instead as his dream girl. First she’ll get into the show/books he’s really into, Of Wrath and Rune, and they’ll keep up conversations by talking about the show, she’ll go to cons to show her dedication, and eventually he’ll realize they’re perfect together.
But there’s an interloper in their mix— Jake’s new best friend Max. He hangs out with them all the time, and Cerys feels he’s getting in the way of her getting her “flirt on” with Jake. She’s completely oblivious to the fact that maybe Max is trying to flirt with her.
I think this book did a good job of portraying how tunnel visioned a teenager girl’s mind can be while simultaneously overthinking everything. That pretending to like things (or not) to fit in, is the same thing everyone else is doing as well. No one wants to be ostracized. It’s all about finding your people. If they’re the right people for you, they’ll love you no matter what it is you like.
Max and Cerys develop a strong online friendship unknowingly (to her), and it is interesting to see when he tries to transfer it to real life and she’s just completely oblivious because she thinks it’s Jake she’s talking to.
Thank you PRH Audio for the early listen, I quite enjoyed it!
It threw me back to high school and when I was afraid to tell any of my friends that I was a massive fan of One Direction and even wrote fanfics. As a teenage girl, people finding that out feels like the end of the world.
I found myself getting annoyed with the main character, Cerys, a lot but only because it really is so cringe how little we thought of ourselves at that age.
“The Fangirl Project” is her secret plan to get her best friend, Jake, to see her as more than just a friend and instead as his dream girl. First she’ll get into the show/books he’s really into, Of Wrath and Rune, and they’ll keep up conversations by talking about the show, she’ll go to cons to show her dedication, and eventually he’ll realize they’re perfect together.
But there’s an interloper in their mix— Jake’s new best friend Max. He hangs out with them all the time, and Cerys feels he’s getting in the way of her getting her “flirt on” with Jake. She’s completely oblivious to the fact that maybe Max is trying to flirt with her.
I think this book did a good job of portraying how tunnel visioned a teenager girl’s mind can be while simultaneously overthinking everything. That pretending to like things (or not) to fit in, is the same thing everyone else is doing as well. No one wants to be ostracized. It’s all about finding your people. If they’re the right people for you, they’ll love you no matter what it is you like.
Max and Cerys develop a strong online friendship unknowingly (to her), and it is interesting to see when he tries to transfer it to real life and she’s just completely oblivious because she thinks it’s Jake she’s talking to.
Thank you PRH Audio for the early listen, I quite enjoyed it!
November 8, 2025
Thank you to Beth, NetGalley, and Delacorte romance for an e-ARC of The Fangirl Project
This book was such a fun time! It was an easy, fact-paced, character driven read! It definitely fulfills the YA category, so if YA is not your thing, this might not be the book for you. It’s a super fun concept though if you don’t mind a YA read!
I absolutely loved how we see Cerys’ introduction to fantasy and feelings of finding that genre and becoming a fan girl. It’s really well written from that aspect with her having fun, joining Discord and being uncertain about the fandom and then once she gets into it really falling in love with it. I adored the elements of getting into a fandom and then it progressing into finding fanfiction and fan art. It’s just the perfect encapsulation of what being a fangirl is.
I think the author did a good job of not overdoing the TV show and movie references, but did make it a point to include them with it being a more modern fandom based book. She also does a good job of writing the concept of being in with the “cool“ group and getting into something but hiding it so that you don’t come across as nerdy, especially in that age range of school. Where you feel like people are going to give you a hard time for liking different things, but eventually you come to realize that your cool just the way you are and liking things that make you a little different from the other people at your school is an perfectly fine thing!
I loved the friendships formed between characters and the relationships that formed through out the story as well! There was a plot twist that definitely got me, but I saw the effects from it coming anyway. I was still surprised when it happened though! Overall, it’s a great read and highly recommend for any fellow fangirls out there!
This book was such a fun time! It was an easy, fact-paced, character driven read! It definitely fulfills the YA category, so if YA is not your thing, this might not be the book for you. It’s a super fun concept though if you don’t mind a YA read!
I absolutely loved how we see Cerys’ introduction to fantasy and feelings of finding that genre and becoming a fan girl. It’s really well written from that aspect with her having fun, joining Discord and being uncertain about the fandom and then once she gets into it really falling in love with it. I adored the elements of getting into a fandom and then it progressing into finding fanfiction and fan art. It’s just the perfect encapsulation of what being a fangirl is.
I think the author did a good job of not overdoing the TV show and movie references, but did make it a point to include them with it being a more modern fandom based book. She also does a good job of writing the concept of being in with the “cool“ group and getting into something but hiding it so that you don’t come across as nerdy, especially in that age range of school. Where you feel like people are going to give you a hard time for liking different things, but eventually you come to realize that your cool just the way you are and liking things that make you a little different from the other people at your school is an perfectly fine thing!
I loved the friendships formed between characters and the relationships that formed through out the story as well! There was a plot twist that definitely got me, but I saw the effects from it coming anyway. I was still surprised when it happened though! Overall, it’s a great read and highly recommend for any fellow fangirls out there!
November 21, 2025
The Fangirl Project by Beth Reekles is adorable, chaotic, and honestly just a whole vibe. It perfectly captures that moment when you try to impress a crush by pretending you totally understand their favorite fandom, and then immediately end up twenty tabs deep on Google trying to figure out who any of the characters even are. I experienced a painful amount of secondhand embarrassment, mostly because it reminded me of my own cringeworthy teenage era. All the basketball games and video games I pretended to love just because my crush was there. Embarrassing, yes. Nostalgic, also yes.
Cerys decides she is done being in the friend zone with Jake, so she tries to become the perfect fangirl for his favorite fantasy series. Spoiler: she has absolutely no idea what she is doing. Cue Max, the convention loving superfan who keeps popping up and accidentally becoming the person she actually has chemistry with.
This whole book had me smiling the entire time. Cerys is awkward in a way that feels very “hi yes that is me,” and Max is basically a golden retriever in human nerd form. The convention scenes, the fangirl fail moments, the slow realization that she might be falling for the wrong guy, it is all chef’s kiss.
Tropes and vibes:
🎮 Fandom love
📚 Fake fangirl attempts
🤝 Kinda friends to lovers
💘 Cinnamon roll nerd boy
😂 Peak awkward girl energy
🌟 Conventions and cosplay
💬 Online chats and inside jokes
Super cute, super fun, and incredibly easy to binge. It is a light romcom that feels like comfort food for my comic con loving, nerdy soul.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books, Delacorte, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this super cute ode to fantasy fandom and first loves. All opinions are my own.
Cerys decides she is done being in the friend zone with Jake, so she tries to become the perfect fangirl for his favorite fantasy series. Spoiler: she has absolutely no idea what she is doing. Cue Max, the convention loving superfan who keeps popping up and accidentally becoming the person she actually has chemistry with.
This whole book had me smiling the entire time. Cerys is awkward in a way that feels very “hi yes that is me,” and Max is basically a golden retriever in human nerd form. The convention scenes, the fangirl fail moments, the slow realization that she might be falling for the wrong guy, it is all chef’s kiss.
Tropes and vibes:
🎮 Fandom love
📚 Fake fangirl attempts
🤝 Kinda friends to lovers
💘 Cinnamon roll nerd boy
😂 Peak awkward girl energy
🌟 Conventions and cosplay
💬 Online chats and inside jokes
Super cute, super fun, and incredibly easy to binge. It is a light romcom that feels like comfort food for my comic con loving, nerdy soul.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books, Delacorte, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this super cute ode to fantasy fandom and first loves. All opinions are my own.
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