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Isabella and the Slipper
When Isabella accidentally switches phones with Chase Hawkins, the hottest guy in school, she finds herself making an unexpected connection with her secret crush. There’s only one problem: her awful stepmother and two horrible stepsisters would freak out if they knew. Plus, she’s sure Chase will run if he finds out he’s been texting the school nobody. But things get interesting when he gets paired up with her in physics class. Will it blow her cover?
A sweet teen romance by NYT's bestselling author, Victorine E. Liekse.
A sweet teen romance by NYT's bestselling author, Victorine E. Liekse.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2017
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473 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
January 8, 2018
Such fun! Isabella and the Slipper is a Cinderella retelling set in high school. It reminds me of the movie You've Got Mail which is one of my favorites. This book has a unique setting and a few twists which kept me interested throughout. I'm a huge fan of fairy tale retellings and I love clean romance so this was a great fit for me. I can definitely recommend this to all as it good clean fun!
Rating: 4.5 Stars - Highly Recommend
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Content: Squeaky Clean (just kissing)
Rating: 4.5 Stars - Highly Recommend
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Content: Squeaky Clean (just kissing)
January 1, 2018
I was absolutely hooked from the very beginning. I love Cinderella and find that I enjoy most Cinderella retellings. This one gets 5 stars for creativity, fun and witty writing, some emotional heartstring tugging moments, great characters, sweet romance, happily ever after and an all around enjoyable read.
Definitely going on the re-read shelf for me and one that I know my own daughters will absolutely adore. If you have teenage daughters who love a good fairy tale and sweet romance be sure to share this one with them! Or if you love a sweet happily ever after story, this one's for you!
Content: Clean
My own personal copy.
Happy Reading!!!
Definitely going on the re-read shelf for me and one that I know my own daughters will absolutely adore. If you have teenage daughters who love a good fairy tale and sweet romance be sure to share this one with them! Or if you love a sweet happily ever after story, this one's for you!
Content: Clean
My own personal copy.
Happy Reading!!!
July 21, 2017
Four reasons I ranked this novel four stars out of five.
Star #1: Modern twists on classic fairy-tales are not old to me (yet). I still love them. This one was decently done. It wasn't over-contrived. Lieske didn't go overboard. And I loved the insecurities she gave the protagonist that kept her imprisoned almost as much as the evil stepmother did. Prince Charming was a bit more bland, but I liked him well enough. The romance got cheesy, but it's YA. For YA, it wasn't too cheesy. I wasn't gagging or anything. And one part even gave me goosebumps, something YA definitely doesn't do that often for me. So, kudos for that.
Star #2: Introverts love books about introverts. Sorry, it's true. I related to Isabella on many levels. I could have been her in high school (minus the tragic family history and abusive stepmother and stepsisters). Something about seeing a fellow introvert break outside her comfort zone and not get blasted for it is super-satisfying.
Star #3: It was highly readable. It didn't drone on. It didn't delve into unnecessary exposition or awkward dialogue. The rising action was well-paced. The climax was climactic. The ending was satisfying. It was, in brief, brief. And that worked well. Also, YA tends to have exceptionally cringe-worthy descriptions of the feels and even more cringe-worthy dialogue, and Isabella and the Slipper generally stayed clear of that. Chase's dialogue toed the line every now and then. And the Skittles were a bit much in my opinion. But it never got too bad. Another complaint I have of most YA is scarcity in character development and motivation. This one didn't have a ton of the former, but it didn't need it. It's the Cinderella story. Everybody already knows that story. Develop these characters too much and it becomes pedantic. The latter was sufficient in my opinion. Again, Chase's character toes the line sometimes. The "I don't want to act but my mom is making me" storyline was pretty meh. If there was any part of the story that needed more fleshing out, it was that. But then the story might have gotten too long. It probably could have been lifted out without changing the story very much, but then Five has less to talk to Chase about, and how is Chase going to fall in love with someone he can't confess the deep, dark secrets to.
Star #4: I had trouble setting it down. When I did set it down, I was still thinking about it. Bonus star for that alone.
This was my first Lieske book. I'll probably read others. Pick it up when you want a light, easy, simple, sweet romance. Or if you really like Skittles.
Star #1: Modern twists on classic fairy-tales are not old to me (yet). I still love them. This one was decently done. It wasn't over-contrived. Lieske didn't go overboard. And I loved the insecurities she gave the protagonist that kept her imprisoned almost as much as the evil stepmother did. Prince Charming was a bit more bland, but I liked him well enough. The romance got cheesy, but it's YA. For YA, it wasn't too cheesy. I wasn't gagging or anything. And one part even gave me goosebumps, something YA definitely doesn't do that often for me. So, kudos for that.
Star #2: Introverts love books about introverts. Sorry, it's true. I related to Isabella on many levels. I could have been her in high school (minus the tragic family history and abusive stepmother and stepsisters). Something about seeing a fellow introvert break outside her comfort zone and not get blasted for it is super-satisfying.
Star #3: It was highly readable. It didn't drone on. It didn't delve into unnecessary exposition or awkward dialogue. The rising action was well-paced. The climax was climactic. The ending was satisfying. It was, in brief, brief. And that worked well. Also, YA tends to have exceptionally cringe-worthy descriptions of the feels and even more cringe-worthy dialogue, and Isabella and the Slipper generally stayed clear of that. Chase's dialogue toed the line every now and then. And the Skittles were a bit much in my opinion. But it never got too bad. Another complaint I have of most YA is scarcity in character development and motivation. This one didn't have a ton of the former, but it didn't need it. It's the Cinderella story. Everybody already knows that story. Develop these characters too much and it becomes pedantic. The latter was sufficient in my opinion. Again, Chase's character toes the line sometimes. The "I don't want to act but my mom is making me" storyline was pretty meh. If there was any part of the story that needed more fleshing out, it was that. But then the story might have gotten too long. It probably could have been lifted out without changing the story very much, but then Five has less to talk to Chase about, and how is Chase going to fall in love with someone he can't confess the deep, dark secrets to.
Star #4: I had trouble setting it down. When I did set it down, I was still thinking about it. Bonus star for that alone.
This was my first Lieske book. I'll probably read others. Pick it up when you want a light, easy, simple, sweet romance. Or if you really like Skittles.
August 15, 2017
Victorine E. Lieske is a new author to me. Before reading this book I'd only read a novella by her that was in the Timeless Romance Blind Date collection. To me this is a YA book, but I still enjoyed it. I knew from the start that it was a Cinderella type story but I found it more than just a retelling of a fairy tale.
Isabella's mother had died several years earlier and her father, a famous painter, died just a year after remarrying. She considers herself nothing special and several times says she's "invisible". The story opens with her being sat on by another student during a pep rally as if proving to her that she truly is "invisible".
This story has the familiar elements of the traditional Cinderella story--the awful stepmother and stepsisters, the guy who doesn't know who she is, a "ball" or in this case a school dance and even locking her in a version of a tower aka an attic.
I liked Isabella and felt sorry for her from the start. She's just trying to get through her senior year of high school so she can move far away and go to college to study art. After school she works in the art gallery that used to be her father's, then goes home to paint, which is her passion and her escape.
She and "the prince" or hero of the story meet because of an accidental cell phone mix up. They get to know each other via texting and because she refuses to tell Chase her name he calls her Five. I liked Chase--he had his own issues to deal with at home--his mom wants him to become a famous actor but that's not what he wants. He was kind and saw Isabella for what she was--a smart, talented young woman. Unlike her stepsister who was chasing after him.
Isabella's web of little untruths gets tangled when the physics teacher pairs her and Chase for a physics project. Chase likes Five but also starts to like Isabella after spending time with her while they work on their project. I was interested to see how long it would take Chase to figure out his texting/phone buddy, Five, and his physics partner, Isabella, were the same person.
Of course I didn't like the "stepclan" as Isabella called her stepmother and stepsisters. They were all selfish and self absorbed, ignoring her and treating her cruelly in her own home, which was hers before it was theirs.
The last chapter kind of surprised me because it seemed a little over the top. I figured the stepmother would get caught and she and her daughters would get what was coming to them, but I didn't think she would get that desperate. Besides that I really enjoyed the book and will likely read other books by this author.
Isabella's mother had died several years earlier and her father, a famous painter, died just a year after remarrying. She considers herself nothing special and several times says she's "invisible". The story opens with her being sat on by another student during a pep rally as if proving to her that she truly is "invisible".
This story has the familiar elements of the traditional Cinderella story--the awful stepmother and stepsisters, the guy who doesn't know who she is, a "ball" or in this case a school dance and even locking her in a version of a tower aka an attic.
I liked Isabella and felt sorry for her from the start. She's just trying to get through her senior year of high school so she can move far away and go to college to study art. After school she works in the art gallery that used to be her father's, then goes home to paint, which is her passion and her escape.
She and "the prince" or hero of the story meet because of an accidental cell phone mix up. They get to know each other via texting and because she refuses to tell Chase her name he calls her Five. I liked Chase--he had his own issues to deal with at home--his mom wants him to become a famous actor but that's not what he wants. He was kind and saw Isabella for what she was--a smart, talented young woman. Unlike her stepsister who was chasing after him.
Isabella's web of little untruths gets tangled when the physics teacher pairs her and Chase for a physics project. Chase likes Five but also starts to like Isabella after spending time with her while they work on their project. I was interested to see how long it would take Chase to figure out his texting/phone buddy, Five, and his physics partner, Isabella, were the same person.
Of course I didn't like the "stepclan" as Isabella called her stepmother and stepsisters. They were all selfish and self absorbed, ignoring her and treating her cruelly in her own home, which was hers before it was theirs.
The last chapter kind of surprised me because it seemed a little over the top. I figured the stepmother would get caught and she and her daughters would get what was coming to them, but I didn't think she would get that desperate. Besides that I really enjoyed the book and will likely read other books by this author.
July 11, 2017
Great book
Loved it. I couldn't put it down. Keep the fairy tale books coming. Can't wait for the next one. Thank you
Loved it. I couldn't put it down. Keep the fairy tale books coming. Can't wait for the next one. Thank you
September 6, 2017
Modern Cinderella
I loved this retelling of Cinderella. Isabella is shy, and feels invisible in high school. Her step-mother and step-sisters treat her like Cinderella, and it made me love Isabella even more. She handles their treatment with grace. I was happy to see her finding herself and her value.
Chase was sweet. He was popular, but not caught up in popularity or appearances. He was genuinely kind.
This story was fast paced and compelling. I didn't want to put it down.
Content: clean (some kissing and a truly heinous step-family)
I received a copy of this book through the KindleScout program.
Other books I would recommend:
Fairytale retelling by K.M. Shea
Modern Fairytale Series by Jennifer James
I loved this retelling of Cinderella. Isabella is shy, and feels invisible in high school. Her step-mother and step-sisters treat her like Cinderella, and it made me love Isabella even more. She handles their treatment with grace. I was happy to see her finding herself and her value.
Chase was sweet. He was popular, but not caught up in popularity or appearances. He was genuinely kind.
This story was fast paced and compelling. I didn't want to put it down.
Content: clean (some kissing and a truly heinous step-family)
I received a copy of this book through the KindleScout program.
Other books I would recommend:
Fairytale retelling by K.M. Shea
Modern Fairytale Series by Jennifer James
December 4, 2017
This story was really cute! It's a modern day Cinderella retelling, and there wasn't all that much new about it, but despite that, the story was cute, and I really liked both Isabella and Chase.
Isabella, living with her stepmother after the tragic death of her father (a famous painter who owned an art gallery in Los Angeles), is a quiet girl who suffers from low self confidence and self esteem. She thinks herself to be invisible and a nobody and her only real goal is to graduate from high school so she can move out and get away from her abusive stepfamily. After a pep rally, she accidentally exchanges phones with her crush, Chase Hawkins, the popular movie star who attends her school. They text each other in order to switch phones back (Isabella staying anonymous) and their connection grows from there although Isabella is afraid that Chase will be repulsed if he knew who she really is (and her stepfamily would freak out if they knew since her stepsister is in love with him). Shortly after, the two are paired up for a class project, and Isabella is worried that Chase will discover she's the one he's been texting and hate her for it.
This was a story that I picked up because I have been in the mood to read a bunch of fairytale retellings, and it was cheap on amazon, so I went for it. I didn't know what to expect, and I found that as I read, I was having trouble putting it down. I really enjoyed the characters, and the direction the story went, and it made me happy to read, despite being a bit cheesy at times (although in a story like this, cheesiness is to be expected, so it wasn't a surprise).
The book is very short. Less than 200 pages, which works well for trying to speed through it to see the end (which we know because it's a Cinderella retelling, and yet I was still excited to see how they got there), but while this had it's advantages, I think it also had some disadvantages with some of the plot lines falling a little short due to a lack of development (). I also feel that the ending was a bit rushed (and also came completely out of left field because none of that seemed realistic to the plot from everything that came before it (). That being said, this book gave me exactly what I was looking for and I am really glad I read it!
I recommend this to people who like cutesy romances or modern day retellings (or just retellings in general).
Isabella, living with her stepmother after the tragic death of her father (a famous painter who owned an art gallery in Los Angeles), is a quiet girl who suffers from low self confidence and self esteem. She thinks herself to be invisible and a nobody and her only real goal is to graduate from high school so she can move out and get away from her abusive stepfamily. After a pep rally, she accidentally exchanges phones with her crush, Chase Hawkins, the popular movie star who attends her school. They text each other in order to switch phones back (Isabella staying anonymous) and their connection grows from there although Isabella is afraid that Chase will be repulsed if he knew who she really is (and her stepfamily would freak out if they knew since her stepsister is in love with him). Shortly after, the two are paired up for a class project, and Isabella is worried that Chase will discover she's the one he's been texting and hate her for it.
This was a story that I picked up because I have been in the mood to read a bunch of fairytale retellings, and it was cheap on amazon, so I went for it. I didn't know what to expect, and I found that as I read, I was having trouble putting it down. I really enjoyed the characters, and the direction the story went, and it made me happy to read, despite being a bit cheesy at times (although in a story like this, cheesiness is to be expected, so it wasn't a surprise).
The book is very short. Less than 200 pages, which works well for trying to speed through it to see the end (which we know because it's a Cinderella retelling, and yet I was still excited to see how they got there), but while this had it's advantages, I think it also had some disadvantages with some of the plot lines falling a little short due to a lack of development (). I also feel that the ending was a bit rushed (and also came completely out of left field because none of that seemed realistic to the plot from everything that came before it (). That being said, this book gave me exactly what I was looking for and I am really glad I read it!
I recommend this to people who like cutesy romances or modern day retellings (or just retellings in general).
January 12, 2018
Isabella lives with her stepmother and stepsisters in the house that used to be hers. Her father was a famous artist who had plenty of money. He passed away and now Isabella doesn't have anything. Her stepmother and stepsisters are letting her live with them, but they're treating her appallingly and she has to work every second of her spare time. Her stepsisters have also made sure Isabella isn't popular and is invisible at school. Fortunately Isabella has her art, which gives her a connection to her father and brings her a lot of comfort.
When Isabella and Chase accidentally switch phones she's finally found a way to communicate with him. Chase is the hottest guy in school, but he's off limits for Isabella, because her stepsister is staking a claim on him. However, by remaining anonymous nobody has to know it's Isabella who's chatting to him. Things become complicated when Isabella and Chase have to pair up for a physics project. Will the truth come out and what would happen to Isabella in that case?
Isabella and the Slipper is a wonderful romantic story. Isabella is talented, smart and sweet. She's a beautiful person inside and out. Unfortunately her stepmother and stepsisters are making her life incredibly difficult and painful. Chase is a kindhearted guy with a lot of hidden layers in his personality. They're perfect for each other and I kept hoping they'd have a chance together. They're an adorable couple, but circumstances aren't ideal and I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out if they'd get their happily ever after.
I love a good fairytale retelling and Victorine E. Lieske has written a fabulous Cinderella story. I really liked that she's combined a passion for art with a gorgeous tale about true love. Her writing flows easily and her descriptive style made it possible to visualize every aspect of the story. I read Isabella and the Slipper in one sitting, it's a great mysterious and endearing book. I absolutely loved this enchanting modern fairytale and really enjoyed reading it.
When Isabella and Chase accidentally switch phones she's finally found a way to communicate with him. Chase is the hottest guy in school, but he's off limits for Isabella, because her stepsister is staking a claim on him. However, by remaining anonymous nobody has to know it's Isabella who's chatting to him. Things become complicated when Isabella and Chase have to pair up for a physics project. Will the truth come out and what would happen to Isabella in that case?
Isabella and the Slipper is a wonderful romantic story. Isabella is talented, smart and sweet. She's a beautiful person inside and out. Unfortunately her stepmother and stepsisters are making her life incredibly difficult and painful. Chase is a kindhearted guy with a lot of hidden layers in his personality. They're perfect for each other and I kept hoping they'd have a chance together. They're an adorable couple, but circumstances aren't ideal and I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out if they'd get their happily ever after.
I love a good fairytale retelling and Victorine E. Lieske has written a fabulous Cinderella story. I really liked that she's combined a passion for art with a gorgeous tale about true love. Her writing flows easily and her descriptive style made it possible to visualize every aspect of the story. I read Isabella and the Slipper in one sitting, it's a great mysterious and endearing book. I absolutely loved this enchanting modern fairytale and really enjoyed reading it.
July 11, 2017
#KindleScout
The title is misleading. It would have been fine as Isabella because the slipper has almost nothing to do with the story. This book was an interesting modern take of Cinderella. I liked how art was a central part of the story and evolved around it. The romance between Isabella and Chase is cute. The story is definitely on the younger side of YA genre.
Overall, it was hard to stay in the story world and suspend belief. The author tried to make it too complicated and that took away from it. To really make the story work on the current premise, it needed to be longer. Since it's not longer, the conflict should have been streamlined instead of being wrapped around a bunch of implausible details that don't fit within the perimeters defined by the author.
It's hard to take a well known tale and make it into something fresh and just as appealing. This was a nice try.
The title is misleading. It would have been fine as Isabella because the slipper has almost nothing to do with the story. This book was an interesting modern take of Cinderella. I liked how art was a central part of the story and evolved around it. The romance between Isabella and Chase is cute. The story is definitely on the younger side of YA genre.
Overall, it was hard to stay in the story world and suspend belief. The author tried to make it too complicated and that took away from it. To really make the story work on the current premise, it needed to be longer. Since it's not longer, the conflict should have been streamlined instead of being wrapped around a bunch of implausible details that don't fit within the perimeters defined by the author.
It's hard to take a well known tale and make it into something fresh and just as appealing. This was a nice try.
August 13, 2017
A solid, 3, Cute As Hell stars.
This book was so overloaded with cuteness. I loved Isabella and Chase, both individually and as a couple. I loved how their relationship developed.
I have this problem of forgetting the main characters' names, minutes after reading a book. But somehow I can still remember the MC's names in this one so that's a good sign!
I thought the ending could have been fleshed out a little bit more--I just felt like it was too short to be enjoyable. But overall I enjoyed the book.
This book was so overloaded with cuteness. I loved Isabella and Chase, both individually and as a couple. I loved how their relationship developed.
I have this problem of forgetting the main characters' names, minutes after reading a book. But somehow I can still remember the MC's names in this one so that's a good sign!
I thought the ending could have been fleshed out a little bit more--I just felt like it was too short to be enjoyable. But overall I enjoyed the book.
December 5, 2021
I adored this little nugget here. It was light, fluffy and fun, just the way I like them. Chase and Isabella were adorable and I loved their story. Very enjoyable pick-me-up.
Content: Clean, Kissing only
Content: Clean, Kissing only
August 19, 2017
There is so much that is charming in this Cinderella retelling, and Lieske even manages to work in a bit of suspense and peril. I *may* have stayed up all night reading it...twice.
July 21, 2017
In some ways, this was a fresh take on a familiar, beloved tale. Isabella, our modern Cinderella, texts her crush-worthy Prince, Chase. Instead of sweeping out fireplaces, Isabella is forced to work after school at her deceased father's gallery. The stepmonster and stepsinisters are suitably nasty. There's a fun twist where Chase doesn't realize that the girl, Five, he's texting - and falling for - and Isabella, his project partner, are the same person.
Unfortunately, after a great start and a solid middle, things crashed near the end. Though I don't expect a remake of a fairy tale to be realistic, I DO expect it to bear some resemblance to the original. Isabella and the Slipper careened so far off center in the last few chapters that I'd have sworn it was an entirely different story. A perfectly okay story, but not a Cinderella story. I was going to award 4 stars right up until the last 15 percent of the book or so. At that point, the plot became so ridiculous that I took off a star. Also, the all important slipper? that only got a couple of sentences here, so if that's your favorite part you'll be sorely disappointed.
I voted for Isabella in the Kindle Scout program because it sounded promising. It just didn't quite work for me.
Recommended for: Lovers of fairy tales (or remakes) of all ages, YA (esp. grades 5-10
Unfortunately, after a great start and a solid middle, things crashed near the end. Though I don't expect a remake of a fairy tale to be realistic, I DO expect it to bear some resemblance to the original. Isabella and the Slipper careened so far off center in the last few chapters that I'd have sworn it was an entirely different story. A perfectly okay story, but not a Cinderella story. I was going to award 4 stars right up until the last 15 percent of the book or so. At that point, the plot became so ridiculous that I took off a star. Also, the all important slipper? that only got a couple of sentences here, so if that's your favorite part you'll be sorely disappointed.
I voted for Isabella in the Kindle Scout program because it sounded promising. It just didn't quite work for me.
Recommended for: Lovers of fairy tales (or remakes) of all ages, YA (esp. grades 5-10
July 18, 2017
-"And that was it. Her first conversation with Chase, and he didn’t even really look at her. She was upstaged by a pig."-
This wonderful modern tale is written for teens or young adults but Victorine Lieske writes to encompass a wide range of audiences so that this book can be enjoyed by all ages. She is such a gifted author. I am always so excited when she has something new out. I was glued to the pages as I read this fun tale. It was very hard to put down. I highly recommend it. It is a clean, stand-alone romance.
This wonderful modern tale is written for teens or young adults but Victorine Lieske writes to encompass a wide range of audiences so that this book can be enjoyed by all ages. She is such a gifted author. I am always so excited when she has something new out. I was glued to the pages as I read this fun tale. It was very hard to put down. I highly recommend it. It is a clean, stand-alone romance.
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July 24, 2017
Isabella is a nobody. She lives with her awful stepmother and two step-sisters in the house that was her father's, and works night and day in her father's old art gallery. By night, she paints, with the dream of having her art featured in the gallery—but her stepmother says it's not good enough. But when Isabella gets a phone and accidentally swaps it with the hottest boy in school, things begin to change. Fast. This might be Isabella's chance to have a happily ever after, after all.
This was the first Kindle Scout book I've read so I was a little leery going in. I've read lots of great self-published works on Amazon before, but the majority of Kindle Scout nominees have hocky covers and really bad editorial problems.
Not this one. The cover is gorgeous and I found very few grammatical errors. The storyline is tight and nice and fluffy, and Isabella was a cute character. Plus, I really enjoyed that Chase (the boy) . There were many things here that were similar to Hilary Duff's Cinderella Story, but with enough differences to be entertaining.
Now for the few *minor* things that bothered me.
Okay, off the soapbox. Like I said earlier, I think it rates four stars because it is a cute story, and I'm a sucker for fairy tale re-tellings and happily ever afters.
This was the first Kindle Scout book I've read so I was a little leery going in. I've read lots of great self-published works on Amazon before, but the majority of Kindle Scout nominees have hocky covers and really bad editorial problems.
Not this one. The cover is gorgeous and I found very few grammatical errors. The storyline is tight and nice and fluffy, and Isabella was a cute character. Plus, I really enjoyed that Chase (the boy) . There were many things here that were similar to Hilary Duff's Cinderella Story, but with enough differences to be entertaining.
Now for the few *minor* things that bothered me.
Okay, off the soapbox. Like I said earlier, I think it rates four stars because it is a cute story, and I'm a sucker for fairy tale re-tellings and happily ever afters.
June 18, 2018
OMG! I received a free copy of Isabella and the Slipper from the Kindle Scout program and read it in one night! I didn't want the fun to end. Victorine created characters that pulled me into their lives and didn't let go. Isabella is a hoot and her sexy man, Chase, had me lusting for him (not a good look for a sixty-something woman but, hey, I can dream).
The fun exchange between the lead characters had me laughing out loud, cringing at the embarrassing things Isabella would do and say, and hoping for my HEA.
Looking for a fun read? Dive into Isabella's slippers and frolic with her. You won't be disappointed.
The fun exchange between the lead characters had me laughing out loud, cringing at the embarrassing things Isabella would do and say, and hoping for my HEA.
Looking for a fun read? Dive into Isabella's slippers and frolic with her. You won't be disappointed.
March 10, 2018
Oh Wow!
Okay this book was so unexpected and enjoyable- I don't know where to begin! I was excited to read it after reading this author's Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I wasn't prepared for the twists and added depth to this book. Yes it's supposed to be a retelling of Cinderella, but it quickly becomes so much more than that and has many unexpected twists. I absolutely fell in love with our two main characters and the way they build up a relationship- so swoon-worthy!! A great clean romance, and I sure hope this author plans on writing more!!!
Okay this book was so unexpected and enjoyable- I don't know where to begin! I was excited to read it after reading this author's Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I wasn't prepared for the twists and added depth to this book. Yes it's supposed to be a retelling of Cinderella, but it quickly becomes so much more than that and has many unexpected twists. I absolutely fell in love with our two main characters and the way they build up a relationship- so swoon-worthy!! A great clean romance, and I sure hope this author plans on writing more!!!
August 14, 2017
Isabella and the Slipper is a wonderful contemporary fairy tale. Such a sweet and clean romantic story. Looking forward to see what other fairy tale Victorine E Lieske will tackle next and what twist she will use.
March 12, 2018
Super sweet Cinderella retelling
Satisfies that craving for a sweet “sigh-worthy” read. It follows the Cinderella story but in a modern setting. Isabella is a character you just want to root for.
Satisfies that craving for a sweet “sigh-worthy” read. It follows the Cinderella story but in a modern setting. Isabella is a character you just want to root for.
December 20, 2017
It's a sweet, clean Cinderella story. It was an okay read. I don't think that I'll be reading this one again.
Read
December 28, 2020Just as fun the 2nd time
Artful recreation of the Cinderella story with a believable high school backdrop and clever twist. More complicated than the original.
Artful recreation of the Cinderella story with a believable high school backdrop and clever twist. More complicated than the original.
Read
November 11, 2017G-rated, young-adult retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale.
January 27, 2018
This was a fun re-telling of Cinderella set in high school. Isabella is an extremely gifted painter who lives with her stepmother and two stepsisters who are awful to her. She finally gets a phone, but before she can enter any contacts or personal information it gets mixed up with Chase's phone.
Chase is an actor and her stepsister is relentlessly chasing him. There's a lot more to Chase than people at school realize.
Isabella and Chase start texting each other and become friends. Isabella knows who Chase is, but she refuses to tell him who she is so he starts calling her "Five." They both start opening up and sharing things with each other that they don't usually share. He wants to meet her in person, but she knows that it will cause a lot of problems with her stepsister if Chase pays her any attention... and she's pretty certain that he won't like her as much in person anyway.
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Chase is an actor and her stepsister is relentlessly chasing him. There's a lot more to Chase than people at school realize.
Isabella and Chase start texting each other and become friends. Isabella knows who Chase is, but she refuses to tell him who she is so he starts calling her "Five." They both start opening up and sharing things with each other that they don't usually share. He wants to meet her in person, but she knows that it will cause a lot of problems with her stepsister if Chase pays her any attention... and she's pretty certain that he won't like her as much in person anyway.
Source: Kindle Unlimited
May 2, 2018
I really hate to dump on this book, but I just cannot help myself. I cannot even say why I feel so badly about doing so. It was just sad. The poor little rich girl who lives in the master bedroom of her father’s house and works tirelessly in her father’s art studio rearranging pictures and maintaining the website. Oh, and did I forget she was originally supposed to cook for her stepmother and stepsister’s meals but made herself purposely a bad cook to get out of it?
Wow, I only wish I were more clever so I could be snarky. Sorry to disappoint. Well she did have to walk to school- what 2 blocks?- and she had to walk home- 3 blocks? Forgive me if I found it impossible to feel even the tiniest bit sorry for her. I work with kids everyday whose over-protecting, but loving, parents are harder on their children, and it is not a tragedy if a teenager is not allowed to have a phone.
And don’t get me started on the shoe. Of course she loses a shoe, it’s in the title for crying out loud. Heaven forbid it should reappear after she loses it, but then again it only deserved a passing mention to begin with.
I guess some early reader must have slammed Isabella’s lifestyle because then the step thingy turns nasty in a twist that could have only been created out of desperation. Seriously, it literally came out of nowhere.
Despite all this, I did finish the book. Maybe I was just begging for some sort of redeeming quality. The spoiler is that there is no redeeming quality.
Wow, I only wish I were more clever so I could be snarky. Sorry to disappoint. Well she did have to walk to school- what 2 blocks?- and she had to walk home- 3 blocks? Forgive me if I found it impossible to feel even the tiniest bit sorry for her. I work with kids everyday whose over-protecting, but loving, parents are harder on their children, and it is not a tragedy if a teenager is not allowed to have a phone.
And don’t get me started on the shoe. Of course she loses a shoe, it’s in the title for crying out loud. Heaven forbid it should reappear after she loses it, but then again it only deserved a passing mention to begin with.
I guess some early reader must have slammed Isabella’s lifestyle because then the step thingy turns nasty in a twist that could have only been created out of desperation. Seriously, it literally came out of nowhere.
Despite all this, I did finish the book. Maybe I was just begging for some sort of redeeming quality. The spoiler is that there is no redeeming quality.
August 17, 2017
SPOILER-ISH: I started reading this late last night and almost finished it, but the sheer WTF-ery of the last 10% or so made me put it down in favor of much more sensible sleep. I managed to finish it this afternoon, and nope, the penultimate scenes still feel like they came out of nowhere. It's like the author wanted to prolong the suspense by making the MCs as miserable as possible. I get it, I guess, but it makes me feel like the author might be a closet sadist lol.
Overall, it's a cute read, I was rooting for the protagonists, and the heroine's lack of self-confidence was annoying but not in a I-want-to-punch-her-in-the-face way. I also like that the hero figured out her secret on his own. Would be a 3.5 rounded to 4 star rating, but the HEA can't make up for the trip to bizarre-o world that comes just before it.
Overall, it's a cute read, I was rooting for the protagonists, and the heroine's lack of self-confidence was annoying but not in a I-want-to-punch-her-in-the-face way. I also like that the hero figured out her secret on his own. Would be a 3.5 rounded to 4 star rating, but the HEA can't make up for the trip to bizarre-o world that comes just before it.
March 16, 2018
I'm not really sure why this book got such a high rating. It was just ok in places but mostly I struggled with not rolling my eyes the entire time. Her step-family was a little too over the top bad and the ending was incredibly ridiculous. I hate not finishing books so I was relieved when I finally finished this one.
July 12, 2017
Cute and fun story
I really enjoyed this story. Isabella was a wonderful character, who was shy but at the same time had fire in her. Chase was the handsome love interest and I liked how he wanted to protect Isabella from everything. This was truly a Cinderella story with changes here and there that made It work out so well. That Step mother was a real B****. All together I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes romance YA.
I really enjoyed this story. Isabella was a wonderful character, who was shy but at the same time had fire in her. Chase was the handsome love interest and I liked how he wanted to protect Isabella from everything. This was truly a Cinderella story with changes here and there that made It work out so well. That Step mother was a real B****. All together I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes romance YA.
July 15, 2024
Evil
This modern day Cinderella story gives lots of reasons to hate the evil stepmother and sister. Yes... it is yet another Cinderella tale but who cares! Many people live in fear and Isabella was drowning in it. I could understand why she continued to be obedient and holding onto the hope of graduating and finally being free. A very fun read.
This modern day Cinderella story gives lots of reasons to hate the evil stepmother and sister. Yes... it is yet another Cinderella tale but who cares! Many people live in fear and Isabella was drowning in it. I could understand why she continued to be obedient and holding onto the hope of graduating and finally being free. A very fun read.
May 30, 2025
5 stars ✨
Isabella and the Slipper was such a sweet teen Cinderella retelling! I liked the way Lieske adapted the fairy tale to fit into a high school setting without feeling cliché or out of place. While it had some angst (no Cinderella retelling is complete without evil stepsisters, after all!) it wasn't too much and I loved the way our main characters met! I don't have much more to say, so I'll try to keep this review simple and short 😊.
Plot summary:
When Isabella accidentally switches phones with Chase Hawkins, the hottest guy in school, she finds herself making an unexpected connection with her secret crush. There’s only one problem: her awful stepmother and two horrible stepsisters would freak out if they knew. Plus, she’s sure Chase will run if he finds out he’s been texting the school nobody. But things get interesting when he gets paired up with her in physics class. Will it blow her cover?
A sweet teen romance by NYT's bestselling author, Victorine E. Liekse.
About the plot:
This storyline was really good! Although I'm sure it must have been done before, I'd never personally read a book where the characters meet by switching phones and I loved it! Particularly the way Chase was going crazy from curiosity!! I also liked reading the texting format. It was pulled off well and I was really invested all throughout the story!
Characters:
Isabella: Isabella was a wonderful lead. She was very lovable and relatable in many ways. I don't agree 100% with everything she did, but I understood her motivations for doing so. She had a great personality and I enjoyed getting to know her and reading her story.
Chase: Chase. I don't know quite where to start with him. He was definitely deeper a character than I was expecting, which was good, and I loved getting his POV! He was kind, caring and super protective of Isabella, which was great. Protective MMC (Male main character) is one of my favorite tropes, so I definitely squealed in some parts! He was also profound in his family situation, and I liked how he was a genuinely nice person. Often, the popular characters are the "mean kids" but I'm glad that wasn't his case. I liked him a lot!!
Savannah: Savannah may have been a secondary character in this story, but I hope she gets her own story someday! She was fun, feisty, and a totally supportive best friend. It would have been so easy to add friendship angst or secrets between her and Isabella but instead they were honest, forthcoming friends and it was very nice to see. That is, after all, how it should be!
Elenore: I didn't really like this character. I know that we're not supposed to, but I felt like she was a bit too evil at times. I understand that people like her probably exist (a terrible reality), but I might have liked it better if she were a bit more redeemable. After all, most people aren't that crazy or criminal making her seem a bit unrealistic. She did go her plans in a smart way, which is more than I can say for many villains, and her motivations made sense, even if I didn't agree with them.
In general, the characters weren't super complicated, and they were fairly realistic. Our main characters had some depth and I really enjoyed getting to know them!
Romance:
- Clean/No Spice
- Crushes
- Kissing
- Blushing
- Noticing
- Nearness
- Jealousy (very low angst)
- Spend some time in each other's rooms (nothing happens)
The romance in this book was very sweet. Although it may have started with a crush and a misunderstanding, as they got to know each other better I was able to root for them. Isabella was great and Chase was the sweetest male lead! Very clean and wholesome romance.
Content Warnings ⚠️: (⚠️ Spoilers ahead ⚠️)
(⚠️ End of Spoilers ⚠️)
I'd recommend this book for ages 13+ because of the romance and a scene at the end that might affect sensitive readers (see list above*).
Conclusion:
Isabella and the Slipper is a contemporary, teen Cinderella retelling that I recommend for fans of teen stories or Cinderella retellings. It's well done, and I enjoyed every second of it. I believe so far, it's a standalone, but I'd love to see it become a series someday. 🩷
I grabbed this book for free during a fairy-tale retelling event, but this has in no way influenced my opinions on this book.
- Camila I.
Isabella and the Slipper was such a sweet teen Cinderella retelling! I liked the way Lieske adapted the fairy tale to fit into a high school setting without feeling cliché or out of place. While it had some angst (no Cinderella retelling is complete without evil stepsisters, after all!) it wasn't too much and I loved the way our main characters met! I don't have much more to say, so I'll try to keep this review simple and short 😊.
Plot summary:
When Isabella accidentally switches phones with Chase Hawkins, the hottest guy in school, she finds herself making an unexpected connection with her secret crush. There’s only one problem: her awful stepmother and two horrible stepsisters would freak out if they knew. Plus, she’s sure Chase will run if he finds out he’s been texting the school nobody. But things get interesting when he gets paired up with her in physics class. Will it blow her cover?
A sweet teen romance by NYT's bestselling author, Victorine E. Liekse.
About the plot:
This storyline was really good! Although I'm sure it must have been done before, I'd never personally read a book where the characters meet by switching phones and I loved it! Particularly the way Chase was going crazy from curiosity!! I also liked reading the texting format. It was pulled off well and I was really invested all throughout the story!
Characters:
Isabella: Isabella was a wonderful lead. She was very lovable and relatable in many ways. I don't agree 100% with everything she did, but I understood her motivations for doing so. She had a great personality and I enjoyed getting to know her and reading her story.
Chase: Chase. I don't know quite where to start with him. He was definitely deeper a character than I was expecting, which was good, and I loved getting his POV! He was kind, caring and super protective of Isabella, which was great. Protective MMC (Male main character) is one of my favorite tropes, so I definitely squealed in some parts! He was also profound in his family situation, and I liked how he was a genuinely nice person. Often, the popular characters are the "mean kids" but I'm glad that wasn't his case. I liked him a lot!!
Savannah: Savannah may have been a secondary character in this story, but I hope she gets her own story someday! She was fun, feisty, and a totally supportive best friend. It would have been so easy to add friendship angst or secrets between her and Isabella but instead they were honest, forthcoming friends and it was very nice to see. That is, after all, how it should be!
Elenore: I didn't really like this character. I know that we're not supposed to, but I felt like she was a bit too evil at times. I understand that people like her probably exist (a terrible reality), but I might have liked it better if she were a bit more redeemable. After all, most people aren't that crazy or criminal making her seem a bit unrealistic. She did go her plans in a smart way, which is more than I can say for many villains, and her motivations made sense, even if I didn't agree with them.
In general, the characters weren't super complicated, and they were fairly realistic. Our main characters had some depth and I really enjoyed getting to know them!
Romance:
- Clean/No Spice
- Crushes
- Kissing
- Blushing
- Noticing
- Nearness
- Jealousy (very low angst)
- Spend some time in each other's rooms (nothing happens)
The romance in this book was very sweet. Although it may have started with a crush and a misunderstanding, as they got to know each other better I was able to root for them. Isabella was great and Chase was the sweetest male lead! Very clean and wholesome romance.
Content Warnings ⚠️: (⚠️ Spoilers ahead ⚠️)
(⚠️ End of Spoilers ⚠️)
I'd recommend this book for ages 13+ because of the romance and a scene at the end that might affect sensitive readers (see list above*).
Conclusion:
Isabella and the Slipper is a contemporary, teen Cinderella retelling that I recommend for fans of teen stories or Cinderella retellings. It's well done, and I enjoyed every second of it. I believe so far, it's a standalone, but I'd love to see it become a series someday. 🩷
I grabbed this book for free during a fairy-tale retelling event, but this has in no way influenced my opinions on this book.
- Camila I.
October 14, 2019
I really enjoyed it until the very end, so 3+ stars.
I liked the leads. Chase was likeable for being a BMOC. Not a bully or too arrogant. More like he was oblivious to the not-popular crowd. Chatting with "Five" helped him see beyond his own lunch table, and he grew nicely as a character. Isabella was a pretty decent Cinderella lead. A little surprised at how much she put up with, but as a minor, I guess she was more limited in her options. She was only a teenager, after all.
This also has one of my favorite tropes, the anonymous relationship. Love a secret pen pal romance (or text buddy, in this case)! Made for a great build-up between the two. I liked how conflicted Chase was starting to get, falling for the same parts of the girl via two different means of communication.
Unfortunately, it's hard to do really literal fairy tale reinterpretations and still make them believable. And that's where this drops to 3 instead of 4 stars. Still, it's an enjoyable modern fairy tale telling, and it's a YA romance, so how based in reality do we really expect it to be?
Alternating 3rd person POV. No cheating or love triangle nonsense. Clean - just kissing. OW drama to some extent with mean girl antics of evil stepsisters, but nothing too bad. Likeable leads and good build of the romance. The weirdest/most forced part of the story were where the plot felt forced to parallel the fairy tale more closely. HEA and no cliffhangers.
Nothing more in this series right now, but would I read more from this author? I have, and will do again. Good sweet little YA escapes.
I liked the leads. Chase was likeable for being a BMOC. Not a bully or too arrogant. More like he was oblivious to the not-popular crowd. Chatting with "Five" helped him see beyond his own lunch table, and he grew nicely as a character. Isabella was a pretty decent Cinderella lead. A little surprised at how much she put up with, but as a minor, I guess she was more limited in her options. She was only a teenager, after all.
This also has one of my favorite tropes, the anonymous relationship. Love a secret pen pal romance (or text buddy, in this case)! Made for a great build-up between the two. I liked how conflicted Chase was starting to get, falling for the same parts of the girl via two different means of communication.
Unfortunately, it's hard to do really literal fairy tale reinterpretations and still make them believable. And that's where this drops to 3 instead of 4 stars. Still, it's an enjoyable modern fairy tale telling, and it's a YA romance, so how based in reality do we really expect it to be?
Alternating 3rd person POV. No cheating or love triangle nonsense. Clean - just kissing. OW drama to some extent with mean girl antics of evil stepsisters, but nothing too bad. Likeable leads and good build of the romance. The weirdest/most forced part of the story were where the plot felt forced to parallel the fairy tale more closely. HEA and no cliffhangers.
Nothing more in this series right now, but would I read more from this author? I have, and will do again. Good sweet little YA escapes.
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