Accidental Cinderella

Accidental #6

by Emily Evans

A ball…a gown…a pumpkin…and a happily ever…this standalone, contemporary YA romance has them all. When Ella receives an exciting invitation to attend an exclusive boarding school, she knows she won’t fit it. These kids are elite, wealthy, and driven. She’s ‘average Ella’ on a scholarship…at least, that’s what she wants everyone to believe. A lost shoe…a lost shirt…oh my…When events push her to need a boyfriend, Ella asks hot senior Hale. His response? “No.” Yep. That’s her fairytale. Hale’s driven, and he needs an A on the fall project. He doesn’t need the sweet but average scholarship girl screwing up his grade – not after last year. Tanking science will ruin his entry into a top pre-med program. He’s focused. School. Homework. Rowing. No girl’s going to mess up his plan. Not even one as intriguing as Ella. These two meet in ashes, sparks fly, and their lives light up. Once Upon A Time...

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, High School, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Teen

217 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2016

About the author

Emily Evans writes fun, young adult romance. She holds a BA in Psychology from Texas A&M University and an MFA in Creative Writing from American College Dublin. A native Houstonian, she loves travel, movies, and books and may be found at www.EmilyEvansBooks.com.

Reviews

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella has had an upheaval when it comes to her family life as her mother remarried her stepfather and then her mother died, and her stepfather remarried again and then he up and left her in her stepmother's care. When Ella receives a letter from an exclusive boarding school telling her that she has won a full scholarship, she can't believe it and that this is her ticket out of her step-monster's life. Ella starts at the boarding school and as soon as she arrives, she knows she doesn't fit in as everybody at the school is super-wealthy and she is average in all aspects. However, her mysterious benefactor has made sure that Ella is getting the full school experience like any other student. Ella makes friends with the Penworth twins Hale and Penelope. Hale doesn't date, but there is something about Ella that makes him want to reconsider and change his mind. As the book goes along, Ella soon discovers that something is fishy as people are telling her that the exclusive boarding school does not have scholarships - if they don't give out them, then who is paying for her schooling and clothes and pretending to be her school liaison? As Ella starts to dig it leads her to another student who will then unravel secrets about her past and who her father indeed is. I did like the ending of this book as it could have gone another way, but I loved how accepting the characters were and that they wanted to make up for lost time with Ella.

[Tenille Berezay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

I would sum this book up as cute. Ella is a character who’s layers unfold with the pages. She gains depth and strength while still keeping that tender heart Cinderella is so famous for.

Hale is another solid character. He has some doubts and some secrets, but you still like him despite all of that because of how he treats Ella.

I liked that this book didn’t leave Ella an outcast. She was able to gain friends at the school and form bonds with more people than just our hero. There were a lot of fun character’s and side stories (some more believable than others-Ella stepping in on the rowing team last minute, I don't think so). But the romance was well done, and didn’t overshadow the rest of the story. The similes cracked me up, as Ella compares most everything somehow to her old job at a juice bar. This book does have some swearing and accidental ‘compromising’ situations, but I would say it is clean overall. Oh, and the rich snobbery does get a bit obnoxious, but our main character is right there with us being shocked by the wealth.

I would recommend this if you are in the mood for a little elitism and a really cute main character (and an even cuter love interest).

Full Review @http://tenilleberezay.com/#!/review-t...

[✿❤~m49913~❤✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and very Cinderella, minus 2 evil step-sisters and step-mother in action.

But it seems more like Daddy Long Leg's story (my opinion).

[Kathy]

20% in and I didn't care at all.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fresh

I got confused once or twice and there were a few missed words but the story totally won my heart! Looking forward to more from this author!

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

First can we just talk about what a lovely cover this book has! And the inside is as lovely as the outside!

Ella Marie Aschen has no idea how she received a scholarship to the elite boarding school in Massachusets.
Ella as been through a lot in her short time on earth. Her mother has died, leaving her with a step-father who remarries giving her a step-mother also. Ella doesn’t know anything about her father.

When an invitation/scholarship arrive at her door along with a trunk of uniforms, she is more than curious, but also more than ready to be gone!
Ella’s goal is to just stay under the radar. Don’t do poorly and don’t do outstanding. Just middle of the road, not attracting attention. She knows she doesn’t belong at this school, with these privileged students and she would just like to fade into the background.
That however is not meant to be. She isn’t the only one hiding things, keeping secrets.
And the biggest secret of all will send her head spinning.

Ella is a great character and I can see young adults loving this author and this story.
I don’t usually read YA fiction, but someone asked me to read this and I did. And I am really glad I did!
I would feel very comfortable recommending this book.

[J.M.]

A no-magic retelling set at a prestigious boarding school. Much eye-rolling over the cute-meet in the opening pages, but it gets better. The plot blends pieces of more than one classic tale into the story of an oppressed stepdaughter who makes good with the help of an unexpected ally. Add in a rowing team including a bland hot hero, a sort-of bad girl, a few teachers to cause trouble, plus a ditsy-sweet friend, and you've got a quick, fluffy read.

[Raven Hudgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I thought this was a cute retelling. In the beginning it was hard to form a relationship with the main character, but as it progressed I liked her more and more. The love interest was interesting to say the least. Their budding romance was quick, yet sweet. I didn't fall hard into the story, but I did enjoy it. I picked it up at the RWA conference. Would recommend if you're looking for a sweet romance.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun modern retelling of Cinderella. Hale wasn't very likable for most of the story, but I did think his sister was a good character - loved her meddling. The ending was cute, but the "big reveal" and the consequences/results from that were too easily handled. All in all, it was an enjoyable story.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet romance

This is a sweet, quick read that leaves you happy and satisfied. I enjoyed getting to know Ella and Hale and experiencing how Ella finds a prince in more ways than one. I would recommend this book to teens and anyone who loves a sweet but compelling story.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet romantic novel

[Jessica Fether · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ended up being much better than I originally thought it was going to be!

[Nikita Navalkar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Cinderella story

This was a ridiculously fluffy, perfectly ridiculous slice of YA fairytale-ing, the kind I hadn’t read in a while, and had its little clever moments of depth too. I was reminded how teenagers can be actually young and dumb unlike most of the over achieving kids I often read about, the little twists on Cinderella were nicely done, and Prince Charming, aka Hale had the most basic sketch of a personality. But this is the girl who grew up loving A Cinderella story, so you can imagine this was a lot of fun for me. I gotta get my dose of cheese too you know. And Ella’s character was pretty well developed overall.

[Victoire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am on the fence about the rating on this one maybe it's more of a 3.5. The story was cute and it was not a cookie cutter Cinderella which is nice. I actually liked the story line but I feel like there could have been more to the story more about how smart she is and trying to hide her abilities more about solving the mystery of her benefactor or her parents instead we get a cute story about this Texas girl who to Massachusetts and has a crush on a boy on the rowing team. It was a good story though! I enjoyed the whole thing...the narrators voice or Ella was a little over the top in the beginning which made it a bit difficult to take the story seriously but there was some good growth I feel from the writer and the quality of the story. Idk if you need a escape that is happy and not as dramatic as now in day YA novels this one fits the bill.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute retelling of the Cinderella story. Ella gets the chance to go to a private school and get away from the mean step mother back in Texas. I like how she grows while away at school and moves from being just average to top of her class. Her romance with Hale is so sweet because he is against dating at first, but she slowly convinced him. He also helps Ella become more confident with showing her smarts. It also saves her project grade from being dropped after a classmate tries to say she didn’t contribute. I liked the elements of the original story, but some feel too contrived.
Very fun and easy to get through.

[Annabelle Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK but has the potential to be great.

Everyone loves a great fairy tale rewrite right? Well it was enjoyable but the characters were all over the place. Ella was practically manic. One minute she is shy, the next she is forward and bold. Just not believable. I really wish Emily had developed the characters a bit more. Fortunately the book is not a total loss. Pick it up and give it a read. The storyline is great and a major plus for me was it was a clean read.

[Robin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read that watches Ella navigate her way through an exclusive prep school as the scholarship kid, she thinks. Mysteriously, the things that she needs seem to drop in her lap; new to her.
She gets tangled up, literally, with Hale, a hot senior and discovers the secrets she has wondered about her whole life.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an okay story. I wish the author would have built the relationship between Hale and Ella up more. I also didn't like how fast and easy everything was wrapped up. Overall, I would recommend this book to a 12 year old because of the way the author wrote and the story isn't bad.

[Auburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good twist

This isn't your regular Cinderella story, the plot is meant for modern day. Ella is given a scholarship to one of the most elite schools in the country and her life will never be the same.

[Lacy Osman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun twist

This book is a fun twist on Cinderella. I really enjoyed reading it. I fell in love with Ella and loved how she overcame her difficult life and dealt with the new surprises. It was my first book by Emily Evans and I look forward to reading more from her.

[Anna Waltzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accidental Cinderella

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Emily Evans is now one of my favorite authors. Once I started, I could not put the book down I look forward to following Ms. Evan's work.

[Virginia McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always entertaining

I always enjoy a remake of Cinderella. This was classic and enjoyable. A secret, a crush, and finally a family in the know. Maybe not a typical Prince Charming, but family charming is always welcome.

[Tayllor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

A great story that was very well written!! This has been one of my favorite twists on a classic fairytail! I can't wait to see what else you have!

[Simone S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come after 2016 reading challenge rush.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

YA Book

Spoilers. I thought that the book was okay. The storyline made leaps in certain areas. There wasn't really any prolonged progression in search of the person behind Ella's tuition and money. We wouldn't hear anything about Ella looking for a connection with the donor and then all of a sudden she figured it out with a shipping form. And it was dismissed how easy it was to find him bc she hadn't tried hard to look for the person. The only other time she tried was to look up an IP address. There are some rowing inaccuracies and I understand how a YA is not going to be accurate, but the author had to have done more research then find out the nickname for coxswain is coxie and a rowing machine is called an erg. When the talked about how all the coxswain does is yell encouraging things like "row" most coxswains would find that insulting. Another inaccuracy would be when Hale and Ella somehow sat on the rowing boat side by side. The boat is too skinny for two people to sit side by side. Unless it was one of those boats you see in the notebook when they go to the lake, but I doubt they have a rudder to steer and in the this book it says that Hale taught Ella how to steer the boat. The author didn't clarify and made it seem like the boat three got from the boathouse was a racing boat. Then with Drake and I think Shayla who didn't have oars couldn't have been possible bc the boat would've flipped. The oars help balance the boat when they are set in the oar locks. And when Ella replaces Fritz in the race technically girl coxswains are allowed to cox for the men's team even in college. With the over 110 pounds thing with the sand is inaccurate as well. For the women's team the coxswain must weigh 110 pounds or less. On the men's team I believe it is 125 pounds or less. If you weigh under the max weight then that is when the coxswain would need sand to weigh 125 pounds or 110 pounds, so there is no advantage over other teams and this would only happen during sprint races which occur during spring. While for head races (occur only during fall) it doesn't matter how much the coxswain weighs. The race doesn't occur until after the pumpkin ball which is after Halloween so I'd say early November making it a head race.

[Nancy Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can admit it - I love Cinderella stories!! This story was in the modern day setting and involved a girl who was transported from her sad and lonely existence in Texas to a private school in New England. There she encounters her Prince Charming and a potential evil "stepsister"/rival. Ella spends time trying to navigate her new circumstances and figure out who the "fairy godmother" who anonymously paid for her move, tuition, and materials. I am looking forward to reading more books in the Accidental series.

[Nia Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a really sweet book. I loved Hale, he was a sweet guy even though he seemed like a dick at the start. One thing I didn't like was the POV, I thought if it had been in Ella's POV it would've been even better. But nice book overall.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute read. I liked the twist at the end and how it was all pulled together.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential. There was a lot of telling, not showing in the writing and I had a hard time really relating and caring much for the characters.

[Aish Doromal · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8