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Warr Acres High/The Pen Pal Romance Series #3
Sincerely Cinderella
I gave him three rules. Three impossible rules.
1) I don’t want you to know my real name.
2) We’re never going to meet in person.
3) You don’t get to be my Prince Charming.
When I woke up in the hospital, fatherless and blind, falling in love was my last priority. No, I had to figure out how to live again. And deal with my heinous aunt. Plus her two daughters, aka the Terrible Two.
But then I got my first letter from Jett.
He shouldn’t want anything to do with me – a relationship would cost him too much. But he keeps trying to tell me that some rules are meant to be broken.
The only problem with our rules?
They exist for a reason.
Start reading Sincerely Cinderella today to learn what happens when fate meets reality. Fans of The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon and Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram will devour this young adult romance that will leave your heart pounding, your eyes watering, and butterflies dancing in your stomach. Or at least believing in happily ever after.
1) I don’t want you to know my real name.
2) We’re never going to meet in person.
3) You don’t get to be my Prince Charming.
When I woke up in the hospital, fatherless and blind, falling in love was my last priority. No, I had to figure out how to live again. And deal with my heinous aunt. Plus her two daughters, aka the Terrible Two.
But then I got my first letter from Jett.
He shouldn’t want anything to do with me – a relationship would cost him too much. But he keeps trying to tell me that some rules are meant to be broken.
The only problem with our rules?
They exist for a reason.
Start reading Sincerely Cinderella today to learn what happens when fate meets reality. Fans of The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon and Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram will devour this young adult romance that will leave your heart pounding, your eyes watering, and butterflies dancing in your stomach. Or at least believing in happily ever after.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2019
188 people are currently reading
563 people want to read
About the author
Kelsie Stelting
48 books1,701 followersKelsie Stelting is a body positive romance author who writes love stories with strong characters, deep feelings, and happy endings.
She currently lives in Colorado. You can often find her writing, spending time with family, and soaking up too much sun wherever she can find it.
Visit www.kelsiestelting.com to get a free story and sign up for her readers' group!
She currently lives in Colorado. You can often find her writing, spending time with family, and soaking up too much sun wherever she can find it.
Visit www.kelsiestelting.com to get a free story and sign up for her readers' group!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 2, 2019
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 1.5 stars
I thought this book would be a quick and cute read. It definitely was quick, cute but very under developed. The main character is faced with so many horrible events in such a short time. Her father dying. Her losing her sight and then on top of it all she has to live with her aunt who is only watching her for the money she can drain from her trust fund. Overall I didn't really connect with any of the characters. We didn't get to really know them in the short amount of pages. I feel like they were very under developed and not what I was looking for. I was expecting this book to be more hard hitting, a real tear jerkier, but it wasn't.
The plot it's self is very predictable. It's the cliche pen pal trope and I honestly have had enough with the trope. Occasionally they can be written well but in this case it was too rushed to be done well. I feel like the book overall isn't realistic. (SPOILER) I don't think any school would hire someone and have the be pen pales with someone and then get them in trouble for having a relationship with a student. Even thought there wasn't one. They are beginning having feelings for each other way too easily and it felt a lot like insta love. (END OF SPOILER)
I feel like if the author took her time writing the book and didn't rush things I could have been a really fun book. Maybe add more emotions. More struggles. Yes the main character is blind but she's more so mopping around rather than trying to adjust to the life she has. Overall I did finish the book and I didn't find it horrible. It's not my favorite book and it didn't leave me wanting more. Which is something I want in a book.
Rating: 1.5 stars
I thought this book would be a quick and cute read. It definitely was quick, cute but very under developed. The main character is faced with so many horrible events in such a short time. Her father dying. Her losing her sight and then on top of it all she has to live with her aunt who is only watching her for the money she can drain from her trust fund. Overall I didn't really connect with any of the characters. We didn't get to really know them in the short amount of pages. I feel like they were very under developed and not what I was looking for. I was expecting this book to be more hard hitting, a real tear jerkier, but it wasn't.
The plot it's self is very predictable. It's the cliche pen pal trope and I honestly have had enough with the trope. Occasionally they can be written well but in this case it was too rushed to be done well. I feel like the book overall isn't realistic. (SPOILER) I don't think any school would hire someone and have the be pen pales with someone and then get them in trouble for having a relationship with a student. Even thought there wasn't one. They are beginning having feelings for each other way too easily and it felt a lot like insta love. (END OF SPOILER)
I feel like if the author took her time writing the book and didn't rush things I could have been a really fun book. Maybe add more emotions. More struggles. Yes the main character is blind but she's more so mopping around rather than trying to adjust to the life she has. Overall I did finish the book and I didn't find it horrible. It's not my favorite book and it didn't leave me wanting more. Which is something I want in a book.
May 19, 2019
The very first chapter had me near tears. This one will pull on your heart strings. The writing style and plot flow well, and the story is original. I would have liked more substance, more complicated drama to make the book longer. I wanted to feel that they were really pining for each other as pen pals, a more evolved, mature and necessary love. Overall, a very cute, unique contemporary story.
September 6, 2019
-‘How had I been so blind?’-
Oof. Wow. Talk about your entire life exploding in a flash! On the night of Cindy’s 18th birthday, her life, as she knows it, ceases to exist. Everything she holds dear is taken away in an instant. Forced to live with “Medusa and the Terrible Two”, Cindy is just a meal ticket for her aunt and cousins and she’s treated as such.
I have to admit, I got a little teary-eyed reading this book. Very well written! Reminds me of Kelly Oram’s books. There is swearing in the book so readers should be aware.
This is absolutely nothing like the traditional Cinderella story, other than the evil stepmother character (aunt) and thoughtless stepsister (cousin) and the hardships she loves through. The fact that the idea for the book comes from real personal experience (her brother) makes it all that much better because it’s so realistic. More of a drama than a romance, I found this book to be refreshing in its originality. I absolutely loved the storyline and I highly recommend this book.
Oof. Wow. Talk about your entire life exploding in a flash! On the night of Cindy’s 18th birthday, her life, as she knows it, ceases to exist. Everything she holds dear is taken away in an instant. Forced to live with “Medusa and the Terrible Two”, Cindy is just a meal ticket for her aunt and cousins and she’s treated as such.
I have to admit, I got a little teary-eyed reading this book. Very well written! Reminds me of Kelly Oram’s books. There is swearing in the book so readers should be aware.
This is absolutely nothing like the traditional Cinderella story, other than the evil stepmother character (aunt) and thoughtless stepsister (cousin) and the hardships she loves through. The fact that the idea for the book comes from real personal experience (her brother) makes it all that much better because it’s so realistic. More of a drama than a romance, I found this book to be refreshing in its originality. I absolutely loved the storyline and I highly recommend this book.
May 16, 2019
Sincerely Cinderella by Kelsie Stelting was my first book by this author.
I really liked this book. It got me from start to finish.
I really liked this book. It got me from start to finish.
December 8, 2022
Spoilers ahead. Not a full rant but kind of ranty review!
My two biggest issues would have to be 1. Taking the Lord’s name in vain and 2. the depiction of Christians. Maybe I read it wrong but it seemed that most of the people who were judgmental were Christian or had Christian ties. An example of this is her former best friend who was traumatized when Cindy showed her face to Bella (former friend) and Ryan (ex-boyfriend). Bella seeks help and it turns out she ends up with a Christian counselor. The counselor suggests Bella do something helpful for Cindy. Well, Bella does something horrible thinking she’s helping but is so not helpful. Also, what does it matter what kind of counselor she had?
I guess she’s going to a Christian counselor, and he said she should do something to help you. She wants to raise money for a plastic surgeon to take care of your scar.”
PG 135
Basically. Apparently, things got way out of hand, a drawing of my face got plastered all over my old school, and now Bella’s Christian counselor told her that ‘helping’ me would speed up her recovery process.”
pg189
Shay (Cindy’s cousin) tells Cindy about Bella. Bella thinks that helping Cindy would be fixing something superficial. More than likely whether it’s a Christan counselor or a Secular counselor they probably would suggest helping with adjusting to life as a blind person and not the idea Bella came up with. Maybe I’m reading too much into this but it seems Cindy is blaming the counselor for what Bella thought would be “helpful”.
While I don’t like what Bella did, I do believe she did get traumatized. Cindy’s injuries are suggested as her no longer having eyeballs. So imagine seeing someone you used to be close to and he or she ripped off their sunglasses showing they no longer have eyes without any warning… that seems pretty traumatizing. I understand Cindy is going through some issues as you read she is in a bitter place and wants to hurt those who hurt her, even though that does absolutely nothing to make her feel any better.
Cindy is kind of a horrible character that is written like she’s a victim. Cindy tells a sixteen-year-old Addie to confess her feelings to a twenty-year-old man who is also their teacher. The drama that goes down between Addie and Cindy is also stupid. When Addie finds out that JJ is Jett (Cindy’s secret pen pal) she flips out. This doesn’t make sense because Addie knew Cindy had never “met” her pen pal. They both found out almost at the same time that JJ is Jett.
Now I like the idea of the word from a blind person’s point of view. Though at times, I think the author forgot her MCs were blind because at times the wording was that of what a sighted person would do not a blind person. If that makes sense. Also, I wish the descriptions were a little more detailed. More details on touch feeling and more details on smells and more details on the sounds around them. If there was more than that I would have fully bought the POV.
It was a fast read. Faster than I thought originally. So I guess that’s a good thing. But there are just too many issues that I had with Cindy and the plot. Though again I will say I love the aspect behind what the author tried to do.
My two biggest issues would have to be 1. Taking the Lord’s name in vain and 2. the depiction of Christians. Maybe I read it wrong but it seemed that most of the people who were judgmental were Christian or had Christian ties. An example of this is her former best friend who was traumatized when Cindy showed her face to Bella (former friend) and Ryan (ex-boyfriend). Bella seeks help and it turns out she ends up with a Christian counselor. The counselor suggests Bella do something helpful for Cindy. Well, Bella does something horrible thinking she’s helping but is so not helpful. Also, what does it matter what kind of counselor she had?
I guess she’s going to a Christian counselor, and he said she should do something to help you. She wants to raise money for a plastic surgeon to take care of your scar.”
PG 135
Basically. Apparently, things got way out of hand, a drawing of my face got plastered all over my old school, and now Bella’s Christian counselor told her that ‘helping’ me would speed up her recovery process.”
pg189
Shay (Cindy’s cousin) tells Cindy about Bella. Bella thinks that helping Cindy would be fixing something superficial. More than likely whether it’s a Christan counselor or a Secular counselor they probably would suggest helping with adjusting to life as a blind person and not the idea Bella came up with. Maybe I’m reading too much into this but it seems Cindy is blaming the counselor for what Bella thought would be “helpful”.
While I don’t like what Bella did, I do believe she did get traumatized. Cindy’s injuries are suggested as her no longer having eyeballs. So imagine seeing someone you used to be close to and he or she ripped off their sunglasses showing they no longer have eyes without any warning… that seems pretty traumatizing. I understand Cindy is going through some issues as you read she is in a bitter place and wants to hurt those who hurt her, even though that does absolutely nothing to make her feel any better.
Cindy is kind of a horrible character that is written like she’s a victim. Cindy tells a sixteen-year-old Addie to confess her feelings to a twenty-year-old man who is also their teacher. The drama that goes down between Addie and Cindy is also stupid. When Addie finds out that JJ is Jett (Cindy’s secret pen pal) she flips out. This doesn’t make sense because Addie knew Cindy had never “met” her pen pal. They both found out almost at the same time that JJ is Jett.
Now I like the idea of the word from a blind person’s point of view. Though at times, I think the author forgot her MCs were blind because at times the wording was that of what a sighted person would do not a blind person. If that makes sense. Also, I wish the descriptions were a little more detailed. More details on touch feeling and more details on smells and more details on the sounds around them. If there was more than that I would have fully bought the POV.
It was a fast read. Faster than I thought originally. So I guess that’s a good thing. But there are just too many issues that I had with Cindy and the plot. Though again I will say I love the aspect behind what the author tried to do.
January 5, 2021
This book started out so promising, following Cindy as she adjusts to her new life, learning how to live independently after a car accident left her blind.
Unfortunately about halfway through, it changed from being about this teenager's struggle, and turned into a completely predictable, overly dramatic, tropey YA romance.
I was hoping for more of a 'Scars like Wings' tale of emotional growth in the face of life-changing adversity, but it really fell flat. It was additionally frustrating that Stelting missed her chance to do something amazing for blind culture and awareness with this story.
Unfortunately about halfway through, it changed from being about this teenager's struggle, and turned into a completely predictable, overly dramatic, tropey YA romance.
I was hoping for more of a 'Scars like Wings' tale of emotional growth in the face of life-changing adversity, but it really fell flat. It was additionally frustrating that Stelting missed her chance to do something amazing for blind culture and awareness with this story.
May 28, 2019
Romance, clean (mild language, and some abuse is mentioned so PG-13);
Cindy and Jett's stories (truly about how their lives came together for them after life-altering injuries and accidents) were so compelling, their emotions so raw and hurting. It was wonderful to read how they worked through their hurts, disabilities, family issues and learned to rely on others in a positive way. I loved reading about innovations for the blind for their phones and computers so they could communicate. Their getting to know one another in real-time and through writing/Pen pal made for a heartfelt, emotional, sometimes raw and hurting read. This was life at it's realest. The side characters weren't all as fleshed out as might have happened if it wasn't told from alternating points of view. That being said, it was nice to see both of their perspectives in this story. One from the seasoned veteran of blindness, to the other side with the newness, hurts and rawness of the disappointment and often despair of being blind. The hurts that others often do to them as they 'force' help on the blind, and other things as people 'do' things without consulting them as adults and capable people was an interesting perspective, and made it genuine, raw and honest as well.
While this is a Cinderella story, it was a different kind of adaptation for a modern retelling.
Their genuine fall, although mostly a fall as friends, was still lovely. Opening up their hearts and deepest hurts and worries to each other, and the genuine like and attraction, were lovely. Beautiful read. I had put off starting this one, and I am glad I picked it up when I finely did.
Cindy and Jett's stories (truly about how their lives came together for them after life-altering injuries and accidents) were so compelling, their emotions so raw and hurting. It was wonderful to read how they worked through their hurts, disabilities, family issues and learned to rely on others in a positive way. I loved reading about innovations for the blind for their phones and computers so they could communicate. Their getting to know one another in real-time and through writing/Pen pal made for a heartfelt, emotional, sometimes raw and hurting read. This was life at it's realest. The side characters weren't all as fleshed out as might have happened if it wasn't told from alternating points of view. That being said, it was nice to see both of their perspectives in this story. One from the seasoned veteran of blindness, to the other side with the newness, hurts and rawness of the disappointment and often despair of being blind. The hurts that others often do to them as they 'force' help on the blind, and other things as people 'do' things without consulting them as adults and capable people was an interesting perspective, and made it genuine, raw and honest as well.
While this is a Cinderella story, it was a different kind of adaptation for a modern retelling.
Their genuine fall, although mostly a fall as friends, was still lovely. Opening up their hearts and deepest hurts and worries to each other, and the genuine like and attraction, were lovely. Beautiful read. I had put off starting this one, and I am glad I picked it up when I finely did.
June 1, 2019
So good!
This story was amazing! Cindy lost everything including her sight. I loved reading her journey in life as she learns to live again amidst her new reality.
This story was amazing! Cindy lost everything including her sight. I loved reading her journey in life as she learns to live again amidst her new reality.
April 4, 2020
Let's start with what was good. I don't know what it is like to lose my vision, but I felt the author did a good job of bringing out the sense of loss associated with that change. She also represented the mental health aspect of going through traumatic experiences well.
Unfortunately, the plot of this story wasn't quite up to the task of carrying off the emotions. Every major plot point felt contrived and overly convenient. Why did anything in the story happen? because the plot needed it to.
Unfortunately, the plot of this story wasn't quite up to the task of carrying off the emotions. Every major plot point felt contrived and overly convenient. Why did anything in the story happen? because the plot needed it to.
December 31, 2019
Kinda cute but mostly two dimensional characters with a very predictable spin on the Cinderella story. Nothing new or exciting done here.
April 14, 2021
I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did, now don’t get me wrong it wasn’t because of the story or any of that. It was just YA part of things sometimes I find authors like to give too much unnecessary dramalama and though I love YA there are parts I don’t and just seeing the title I was leery but I am here to say I LOVED it.
I had all the emotions, and all the a ha moments. I was cheering Cindy throughout the book. She had enough sad/terrible things happen to her she deserved a win.
You felt her emotion, that is great writing. Wanting to take a characters pain away that was where I was at. I didn’t want her to hurt any more.
I loved Jet, I think he was perfect for Cindy because he had also gone through many not similar but he understood.
Great overall book. Very glad I picked it up and the narration was wonderful.
I had all the emotions, and all the a ha moments. I was cheering Cindy throughout the book. She had enough sad/terrible things happen to her she deserved a win.
You felt her emotion, that is great writing. Wanting to take a characters pain away that was where I was at. I didn’t want her to hurt any more.
I loved Jet, I think he was perfect for Cindy because he had also gone through many not similar but he understood.
Great overall book. Very glad I picked it up and the narration was wonderful.
August 12, 2020
This is Jett and Cind's story which doesn't relate to the other books but has it's own story line that will tear your heart to pieces itself. It kind of reminds me of Kelly Oram books which I love as well.
If you love sweet YA romances that take place in HS with a penpal twist? Read these books! Every book will have different stories and some of the characters continue to the next books as well. I fell in love with all the characters in each story, laughed, cried, and swooned!
Everyone of them has a different twist but sweet HEA! Download these swoonworthy, adorkable reads today!
If you love sweet YA romances that take place in HS with a penpal twist? Read these books! Every book will have different stories and some of the characters continue to the next books as well. I fell in love with all the characters in each story, laughed, cried, and swooned!
Everyone of them has a different twist but sweet HEA! Download these swoonworthy, adorkable reads today!
May 13, 2019
This book really got me in right from the start. It kept me entertained right to the end.
I enjoyed the messages exchanged between the two MC's and the storyline remained reasonably plausible (I won't say anymore because I don't want to mention any spoilers).
I loved that the author used her personal experience to promote such difficult themes, it made it that much more heartfelt.
My only criticism would be the minor swearing didn't add anything to the story.
I enjoyed the messages exchanged between the two MC's and the storyline remained reasonably plausible (I won't say anymore because I don't want to mention any spoilers).
I loved that the author used her personal experience to promote such difficult themes, it made it that much more heartfelt.
My only criticism would be the minor swearing didn't add anything to the story.
May 25, 2019
WOW!!!
I absolutely love this book. I have never cheered (honestly an out loud cheer) a character in a book before, but I found myself cheering Cindy on during her test. I was almost in tears when the test was over. I am trying to not give away what happened, but let's say they were happy tears. Kelsie has a gift for story telling about "real people and situations" . I will be waiting for her next book.
I absolutely love this book. I have never cheered (honestly an out loud cheer) a character in a book before, but I found myself cheering Cindy on during her test. I was almost in tears when the test was over. I am trying to not give away what happened, but let's say they were happy tears. Kelsie has a gift for story telling about "real people and situations" . I will be waiting for her next book.
May 24, 2019
A must read
I loved this book. It was an emotional ride. I would love a follow up book on Jett and Cindy. There are some unanswered questions that another book could answer.
I loved this book. It was an emotional ride. I would love a follow up book on Jett and Cindy. There are some unanswered questions that another book could answer.
June 4, 2020
I finished this book in 24 hours. It was easy to get into because I felt like the characters were reading their story in my ear. Does that make sense? Cindy and Jett’s relation was easy to root for. I liked how their relationship built up but how they didn’t get together until after Cindy passed her test. It made the whole story more realistic having the relationship be part of the plot but not the whole driving force. I also liked how the antagonist was her aunt instead of her stepmom. Even though this is a retelling of Cinderella, a story told time and time again, this version was warm and original. The way the author stripped the story down to the base and built it back up into something new impressed me. The only reason this story isn’t five stars for me is that there was a sprinkling of language I tend to avoid if I can. Still, the story was strong enough that I wanted to finish and hear how Cindy became free of her aunt and got together with Jett.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2019
Cute. Easy to read. Likable characters in Cindy and Jett.
July 24, 2019
Excellent
Thank you for writing this. It’s a good perspective from the the point of view of those who can go to a residential training center-just keep in mind that there are many, many others who can not go to centers for a myriad of reasons.
Thank you for writing this. It’s a good perspective from the the point of view of those who can go to a residential training center-just keep in mind that there are many, many others who can not go to centers for a myriad of reasons.
June 3, 2019
I could not put this book down, finished in just an evening. Bring on a sequel to this book! I want to know what happens next between Cindy & Jett!
June 25, 2019
Very enjoyable
Just discovered this author and I am in love. Can't wait to read more of her books. Very enjoyable read
Just discovered this author and I am in love. Can't wait to read more of her books. Very enjoyable read
May 17, 2019
First of all, I love fairy tale retellings. Second of all one of my favorite tropes of all time is the falling in love via email/text/letter and not realizing they know each other in real life too. So obviously I wanted to read this book.
It’s definitely a unique take on the story. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a blind heroine (or hero) quite like this these two before. It was really great to read something different that had insight from someone who knew what they were writing about. (In the acknowledgements the author says that her brother is blind and that she spent time at his school learning what that was like.)
The only disappointment was that it was somewhat of a stretch to call it a Cinderella retelling. The only likeness being the wicked aunt and two cousins. And they didn’t really feature that heavily into the story.
Overall, it was a fresh new take with subject matter I don’t come across often, as well as an enjoyable read.
It’s definitely a unique take on the story. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a blind heroine (or hero) quite like this these two before. It was really great to read something different that had insight from someone who knew what they were writing about. (In the acknowledgements the author says that her brother is blind and that she spent time at his school learning what that was like.)
The only disappointment was that it was somewhat of a stretch to call it a Cinderella retelling. The only likeness being the wicked aunt and two cousins. And they didn’t really feature that heavily into the story.
Overall, it was a fresh new take with subject matter I don’t come across often, as well as an enjoyable read.
August 26, 2021
This was okay! I liked the story of friendship and the blind representation. However as a love story (which the Cinderella title promises) this felt short. All in all it was a nice quick read.
Content Notes:
- Maybe 2 kisses
- No swears
- Blind representation
Content Notes:
- Maybe 2 kisses
- No swears
- Blind representation
April 1, 2021
'Sincerely Cinderella' is about a girl who loses her father and her eyesight the day after her 18th birthday after a tragic car accident. She is then left to live with her aunt as her mother relinquished her parental rights. Soon after she becomes a pen pal with a man named Jett who is also blind and moves to a school for people who are visually impaired.
This was a disappointing read. I honestly hesitate to call this a Cinderella reimagining as it missed the core of Cinderella. It has no depth that the fairytale has, when a 1950s animated movie and a modern retelling starring Hilary Duff has more depth there may be a problem. Cinderella is about a girl who has been emotionally abused for years – from a child – and stays as she has nowhere else to go, she is so used to the abuse as she never really knows anything else.
In this book our Cinderella, called Cindy, only stays with her ‘abusive’ aunt for like a week or two, and honestly the aunt is just a flat villain, we are told and not shown that Cindy doesn’t want to live with her because she doesn’t like her, and when shown the villainy, it’s that she wants to use Cindy’s inheritance and says that Cindy must wash the dishes … that’s it. You sympathise with Cinderella as you can see the subtle villainy of her step mother – making her do all the chores, keeping her away from society, giving her hope that she can attend the ball by making Cinderella work even harder and then seeing that it’s still not enough, it’s underhanded and conniving, there are layers to the original fairytale villain that are not evident in this story. The characters are all one dimensional, I don’t get true villain vibes from her aunt, while I’m not saying the aunt is a great person, the book tries to make a create villain moment from her early in the book by saying that Cindy has to wash the dishes.
Cindy as a character is also generally unlikeable. I didn’t really like being in her head at times, she’s quite judgemental and a very hot and cold character – one minute she’s being mean the next she’s being relatively nice. I don’t judge the times when she was angry about how people treated her due to her disability but her jerkiness goes beyond that. Maybe if we had gotten to know Cindy before the accident and gotten to see what she was like beforehand maybe I could have written off the times when she was mean as it being all because of the new life she will now have to live.
I wasn’t really a fan of the romance, honestly, I thought Jett deserved better. I would like to say that they are pen pals but they also meet at the school where he is a teacher, this may bother some people but I do feel like the book handled it ok. She’s 18 and he’s 20 and they mainly become interested in each through anonymous e-mails rather than the in-person interactions. I also can’t make sense of the way the school deals with the romance, I get suspending the teacher till an investigation, but they try to punish Cindy by making her take her exam early and throwing her out – she’s only been there for like a month or two, is that even legal? It feels like drama for the sake of drama and it wasn’t needed, wouldn’t following a character coming to terms with the fact that her life is now changed and learning to cope with that enough of a plot?
I picked up this book as it sounded interesting and was quite short and I feel like the short length is what does this book a disservice. I feel like if it was longer and we could really see proper fleshed out characters it would’ve improved. Maybe if the accident had happened when Cindy was younger and having to live with her aunt and instead of letting Cindy learn to live with her blindness and become independent, she uses it to her advantage to keep Cindy reliant on her and making Cindy a personal servant, Cindy then gets a pen pal and learns that there is a future out there for her where she can be independent, I feel like that would follow the Cinderella story more and make you root for Cindy. This book just has too low stakes compared to the original and the various re-telling’s and doesn’t really feel like a Cinderella story.
This was a disappointing read. I honestly hesitate to call this a Cinderella reimagining as it missed the core of Cinderella. It has no depth that the fairytale has, when a 1950s animated movie and a modern retelling starring Hilary Duff has more depth there may be a problem. Cinderella is about a girl who has been emotionally abused for years – from a child – and stays as she has nowhere else to go, she is so used to the abuse as she never really knows anything else.
In this book our Cinderella, called Cindy, only stays with her ‘abusive’ aunt for like a week or two, and honestly the aunt is just a flat villain, we are told and not shown that Cindy doesn’t want to live with her because she doesn’t like her, and when shown the villainy, it’s that she wants to use Cindy’s inheritance and says that Cindy must wash the dishes … that’s it. You sympathise with Cinderella as you can see the subtle villainy of her step mother – making her do all the chores, keeping her away from society, giving her hope that she can attend the ball by making Cinderella work even harder and then seeing that it’s still not enough, it’s underhanded and conniving, there are layers to the original fairytale villain that are not evident in this story. The characters are all one dimensional, I don’t get true villain vibes from her aunt, while I’m not saying the aunt is a great person, the book tries to make a create villain moment from her early in the book by saying that Cindy has to wash the dishes.
Cindy as a character is also generally unlikeable. I didn’t really like being in her head at times, she’s quite judgemental and a very hot and cold character – one minute she’s being mean the next she’s being relatively nice. I don’t judge the times when she was angry about how people treated her due to her disability but her jerkiness goes beyond that. Maybe if we had gotten to know Cindy before the accident and gotten to see what she was like beforehand maybe I could have written off the times when she was mean as it being all because of the new life she will now have to live.
I wasn’t really a fan of the romance, honestly, I thought Jett deserved better. I would like to say that they are pen pals but they also meet at the school where he is a teacher, this may bother some people but I do feel like the book handled it ok. She’s 18 and he’s 20 and they mainly become interested in each through anonymous e-mails rather than the in-person interactions. I also can’t make sense of the way the school deals with the romance, I get suspending the teacher till an investigation, but they try to punish Cindy by making her take her exam early and throwing her out – she’s only been there for like a month or two, is that even legal? It feels like drama for the sake of drama and it wasn’t needed, wouldn’t following a character coming to terms with the fact that her life is now changed and learning to cope with that enough of a plot?
I picked up this book as it sounded interesting and was quite short and I feel like the short length is what does this book a disservice. I feel like if it was longer and we could really see proper fleshed out characters it would’ve improved. Maybe if the accident had happened when Cindy was younger and having to live with her aunt and instead of letting Cindy learn to live with her blindness and become independent, she uses it to her advantage to keep Cindy reliant on her and making Cindy a personal servant, Cindy then gets a pen pal and learns that there is a future out there for her where she can be independent, I feel like that would follow the Cinderella story more and make you root for Cindy. This book just has too low stakes compared to the original and the various re-telling’s and doesn’t really feel like a Cinderella story.
May 25, 2019
Funny how they didn’t realize they knew each other...
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2019...
••••There's a couple of spoilers throughout this review•••
It’s interesting to know that this book was included in the pen pal romance series that I read. Like I wonder did she go to school with Fabio & Grace and the two from Dear Adam. In my opinion, never mind might be from another book. 😂 But anyways, I liked this book totally different.
Though; I can say, I was like ‘here we go again” with the pen pal theme with some girl acting like she’s Cinderella with the horrible stepmom and steps sisters. But thank god it was different from the other book I had read about a girl whose pen name was “Cinderella”.... this story was good but also sad; because of what happened to Cindy. But in a good way, she ended up happier when she learns to embrace her blindness and accept that she could make it on her own in the world without her dad. Often when you are close to a parent, and then they go gone, or you actually move away, it can be hard for a while until you get used to it.
I was glad she had Jet; and Raven. Not so much as Addie she was just horrible; smh 🤦🏽♀️ you can’t do that to someone after they told you what their ex-boyfriend and an ex-best friend did to them ... I was like dang Addie wasn’t even Cindy friend to sit and lie on both her and Jett and Jett was on suspension, and Cindy got probation for the lies that Addie told, but I was glad In the end Cindy confronted Addie about what happens, and everybody learns the truth. Plus; Shay was also nicer, in the end, we’ll always be in my opinion when she learns to accept Cindy for being blind... she helped her by snitching own her mom to help Cindy.
Because Shay and Taylor mom who was Cindy aunt was just horrible she was taking Cindy trust fund money; taking trying to remodel or something to her Cindy dad house; plus opening up credit cards In Cindy name. Like sheesh, she was taking advantage of someone who couldn’t help themselves I n ways if it were for Shay or Cindy caseworker Terri I don’t think Cindy would’ve gotten what she needed when it came to her aunt... I was glad that her aunt got in trouble for fraud. But it was interesting to see other blind people helping those who are newly blind and not so newly blind. & dating someone who also blind... I never saw or read anything like that before.
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2019...
••••There's a couple of spoilers throughout this review•••
It’s interesting to know that this book was included in the pen pal romance series that I read. Like I wonder did she go to school with Fabio & Grace and the two from Dear Adam. In my opinion, never mind might be from another book. 😂 But anyways, I liked this book totally different.
Though; I can say, I was like ‘here we go again” with the pen pal theme with some girl acting like she’s Cinderella with the horrible stepmom and steps sisters. But thank god it was different from the other book I had read about a girl whose pen name was “Cinderella”.... this story was good but also sad; because of what happened to Cindy. But in a good way, she ended up happier when she learns to embrace her blindness and accept that she could make it on her own in the world without her dad. Often when you are close to a parent, and then they go gone, or you actually move away, it can be hard for a while until you get used to it.
I was glad she had Jet; and Raven. Not so much as Addie she was just horrible; smh 🤦🏽♀️ you can’t do that to someone after they told you what their ex-boyfriend and an ex-best friend did to them ... I was like dang Addie wasn’t even Cindy friend to sit and lie on both her and Jett and Jett was on suspension, and Cindy got probation for the lies that Addie told, but I was glad In the end Cindy confronted Addie about what happens, and everybody learns the truth. Plus; Shay was also nicer, in the end, we’ll always be in my opinion when she learns to accept Cindy for being blind... she helped her by snitching own her mom to help Cindy.
Because Shay and Taylor mom who was Cindy aunt was just horrible she was taking Cindy trust fund money; taking trying to remodel or something to her Cindy dad house; plus opening up credit cards In Cindy name. Like sheesh, she was taking advantage of someone who couldn’t help themselves I n ways if it were for Shay or Cindy caseworker Terri I don’t think Cindy would’ve gotten what she needed when it came to her aunt... I was glad that her aunt got in trouble for fraud. But it was interesting to see other blind people helping those who are newly blind and not so newly blind. & dating someone who also blind... I never saw or read anything like that before.
July 21, 2021
Oh. Look at that--another book it took me ENTIRELY too long to finish for no real reason whatsoever (I'll just chalk it up to the fact I went back to work in January, and that really had me in a slump).
So this is a hard book to write a review for.... First of all, I am not visually impaired, so I find it hard to comment on what was right/wrong with the story. It's really not my place to give my opinion on that.
HOWEVER I will say that I've never read a book with a blind protagonist. And I really appreciated that representation. I feel like it really made me view the world in a different light, and I can honestly say most books don't do that.
Now here's the slight problem: I hated all of the side characters. Literally all of them. I don't want to get into spoilers, but one of the step-sisters makes questionable character choices that just... confused me? Like, there were drastic character changes out of nowhere...
I will say this book was originally maybe like, a 2/2.5 for me. But the author's note at the end really made me tear up, so definitely don't skip that part. Her take on a blind person's experience was honestly amazing, based on her personal anecdote at the end. I also listened to this on audio, and would highly recommend doing so if you want to pick up this book.
And the bottom line is this: tbh, I'm always down for a new take on Cinderella.
So this is a hard book to write a review for.... First of all, I am not visually impaired, so I find it hard to comment on what was right/wrong with the story. It's really not my place to give my opinion on that.
HOWEVER I will say that I've never read a book with a blind protagonist. And I really appreciated that representation. I feel like it really made me view the world in a different light, and I can honestly say most books don't do that.
Now here's the slight problem: I hated all of the side characters. Literally all of them. I don't want to get into spoilers, but one of the step-sisters makes questionable character choices that just... confused me? Like, there were drastic character changes out of nowhere...
I will say this book was originally maybe like, a 2/2.5 for me. But the author's note at the end really made me tear up, so definitely don't skip that part. Her take on a blind person's experience was honestly amazing, based on her personal anecdote at the end. I also listened to this on audio, and would highly recommend doing so if you want to pick up this book.
And the bottom line is this: tbh, I'm always down for a new take on Cinderella.
May 15, 2019
5 stars! Another great read from Kelsie Stelting. I think I read this book in about 3 hours so definitely a good quick read. This book literally rips your heart out right from the beginning. Before the first chapter even!
I love that this can be read as a standalone because I still haven't read the second one. I love more books in a series that can be read in any order. Cindy is about to turn eighteen but the day doesn't go as planned. She ends up blind and with no one in her life. This book definitely puts things into perspective and helps people understand a little more about being blind. I really liked the characters in this story besides Medusa and the terrible twins. I really enjoyed though that at the end the terrible twins kinda had Cindy's back and were not as bad as their mother. I also loved the messages between the two main characters, Cindy and Jett. I was kind of surprised that they didn't figure it out sooner but I guess they shared different things in person compared to real life. I felt bad for Cindy though because it was one thing after another that kept happening but she hung in there and dealt with it as well as she could. I wish jealousy hadn't played a role in this but at least everything worked out in the end. I was glad that Jett finally stood up for himself and things were turning around for them. I felt like the ending was a little rushed and I wish Jett's life was a little more explained at the ending but I'm still glad we got the ending we did.
I love that this can be read as a standalone because I still haven't read the second one. I love more books in a series that can be read in any order. Cindy is about to turn eighteen but the day doesn't go as planned. She ends up blind and with no one in her life. This book definitely puts things into perspective and helps people understand a little more about being blind. I really liked the characters in this story besides Medusa and the terrible twins. I really enjoyed though that at the end the terrible twins kinda had Cindy's back and were not as bad as their mother. I also loved the messages between the two main characters, Cindy and Jett. I was kind of surprised that they didn't figure it out sooner but I guess they shared different things in person compared to real life. I felt bad for Cindy though because it was one thing after another that kept happening but she hung in there and dealt with it as well as she could. I wish jealousy hadn't played a role in this but at least everything worked out in the end. I was glad that Jett finally stood up for himself and things were turning around for them. I felt like the ending was a little rushed and I wish Jett's life was a little more explained at the ending but I'm still glad we got the ending we did.
November 3, 2021
This is a semi-retelling of Cinderella, and I really liked the creative changes and the references to the fairy tale within the story.
I think having disabled romance characters is something we should have more of both for representation and for normalization. Blind people make just as great romance heroes and heroines as any other. And I found the perspective really interesting, though I can't speak to accuracy.
My one criticism is how quickly Cindy went from completely helpless to ready to test to live on her own.
I liked the pen pal setup and having them unknowingly be at the same school. It's a fun trope. I would have liked more relationship building with their in-person interactions, but there is the student-teacher dynamic, so that might have muddied the "appropriate" waters.
The aunt was horrendously but deliciously awful. The best friend too. I thought Jet's family was a little two-dimensional, but they also added a lot of good tension and outrage.
I enjoyed the story.
I think having disabled romance characters is something we should have more of both for representation and for normalization. Blind people make just as great romance heroes and heroines as any other. And I found the perspective really interesting, though I can't speak to accuracy.
My one criticism is how quickly Cindy went from completely helpless to ready to test to live on her own.
I liked the pen pal setup and having them unknowingly be at the same school. It's a fun trope. I would have liked more relationship building with their in-person interactions, but there is the student-teacher dynamic, so that might have muddied the "appropriate" waters.
The aunt was horrendously but deliciously awful. The best friend too. I thought Jet's family was a little two-dimensional, but they also added a lot of good tension and outrage.
I enjoyed the story.
November 15, 2019
Sweet story about a girl who loses her father and her sight in a car accident. Her Aunt Melinda and her two cousins take her in temporarily while she waits for a spot to open in the school for the blind that is going to teach her independence so she can live on her own.
She feels guilty and is bitter after the accident and is very closed off. Her Aunt is a horrible person who is trying to manipulate her and is spending the life insurance money she got from her father's death. Her boyfriend left her after the accident and is now dating her old best friend.
Her case worker suggests she writes to a pen pal to help her get back into society. She resists, but finds she enjoys writing to Jet. When she gets to school, she finds there are many people in similar situations that are enjoying life. There is one teacher, JJ, who she particularly likes also.
A Cinderella storyline with a twist.
She feels guilty and is bitter after the accident and is very closed off. Her Aunt is a horrible person who is trying to manipulate her and is spending the life insurance money she got from her father's death. Her boyfriend left her after the accident and is now dating her old best friend.
Her case worker suggests she writes to a pen pal to help her get back into society. She resists, but finds she enjoys writing to Jet. When she gets to school, she finds there are many people in similar situations that are enjoying life. There is one teacher, JJ, who she particularly likes also.
A Cinderella storyline with a twist.
February 17, 2020
The relationship in this one moved too fast for my taste. The time line was messed up too. Cindy arrives at blind school in about September and picks up goalball right away. The competition is set for November 12, Jetts family thing is supposed to be March 11 but then his mom has him go to the airport right after the blind conference which is around November 12. Seeing as Jett and Cindy get in trouble, her drop is scheduled for a week after the competition which gives her about 2 months from the time she starts blind school to prove she can graduate. It is supposed to be a 9 month program so either she is a genius and leaned everything in a short time or the author didn’t think things through. Also, Cindy was really rude for most of the book and her aunt was too over the top to be believed. Contains: two or three swear words, kissing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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