Challenge Corner discussion

Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale.

Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.

Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

Starting a day early...

Part 1: Look to the Stars (23%)

(view spoiler)[So far, I think this is adorable. It's got elements of the traditional Cinderella story, bits that remind me of Ever After (which is one of my all-time favorite movies), and clever Cinderella-inspired references (like the Magic Pumpkin food truck). All that mashed up with a Star-Trek-ish fandom reboot with an actor being unfairly judged (which is totally un-Starfield). It's a funny, original take on Cinderella. (hide spoiler)]

31%

(view spoiler)[Why elle and derrick havent met yet (hide spoiler)]

56%
(view spoiler)[How does the paparazzi know Derrick is texting a girl (hide spoiler)]

85%
(view spoiler)[What does Chloe even have to be jealous of?? (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Ending is ok but this book can be shorter. I can't keep track of all the side characters (hide spoiler)]

50%
(view spoiler)[Elle and Darien are just too adorable. I need to get the rest of the books in the Once Upon a Con series. I do think that the author needs to expand a bit on the stuff outside of their relationship -- like Elle's relationship with her stepfamily and what the heck is going on with the person spying on Darien. But the relationship part is adorbs. (hide spoiler)]

75%
(view spoiler)[Aw... when the Cosplayers all gave Elle things because her dad started the con... so wonderful. this makes me miss going to scifi cons. I haven't been in years... I wonder if they'll have them next year post-Corona?
(hide spoiler)]

100%
(view spoiler)[I loved it. The characters reminded me of so many people I know. Though the stepsisters and stepmom needed more depth and backstory. Otherwise, I thought it was great. (hide spoiler)]

20% (view spoiler)[I always love retellings, and the idea for this one is really cute. I don't think I've read a modern retelling like this before. I love this and the characters are likable even if they are both a little hard to get into. I love the idea of a fandom-based retelling as well, I feel like there's so many directions authors can go with fandom based stories and I am here for it. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[so I swear I was going to make an update at this point but then I just kind of forgot. I love Sage though she carries the entire story and is possibly one of the best sidekicks ever. (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[I was not going to do an actual update here because I could not put this down! I'm really glad I got into retellings recently because this is exactly the kind of thing I needed. (hide spoiler)]

FINISHED: (view spoiler)[Okay, that scene in the country club has got to be the best ending I've ever read! Also yay for Calliope for standing up for herself and breaking from her toxic family. I imagine book 2 features her and Sage's story, and I'm here for it! (hide spoiler)]

***************************************************************
***************************************************************

RESTARTING FEBRUARY 1ST, 2023

*******************************************************************
*******************************************************************

I'm nowhere close to starting this, can we push it back?

Yep!

***************************************************************
***************************************************************

RESTARTING MARCH 9TH, 2023


*******************************************************************
*******************************************************************

- 40% (view spoiler)[It's all coming back to me now, especially how much I loved this one. It's hard to imagine throwing yourself into fandom so completely as Darrien and Elle do. I love Darrien's perseverance and dedication to the correctness of the fandom. And the way he and Elle dance around each other's identities as Darrien and Rebelgunner is so interesting. It may be a little far-fetched, but Poston does it in a believable way.

I'm having fun listening to this one. I like the alternating voices for Elle and Darrien, and I really appreciate the thought that seems to be put into the accents of various characters. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[It's so hard to pick a favorite character here. Elle, Darrien, Saige, Calliope, Gail, Lonnie, even James. They're all so powerful and unique (Chloe, Catherine, Mark, and Brian can fuck off though.) (hide spoiler)]

84% (where I stopped this afternoon) (view spoiler)[I'd forgotten about Lonnie's arc into a true friend for Darrien. I liked seeing the way he stepped up.

I love the way Calliope showed herself to be different even from the beginning, but both she and Elle just needed Saige's help to realize that potential fully. (hide spoiler)]

FINISHED (view spoiler)[I'm honestly impressed by how much I still love this one. The whole community aspect of the story is beautiful. I have a feeling I may not like as much, though, just because I've already gotten the community feel with this one and I don't know how much further Jessica's story could take that. (hide spoiler)]

Celia wrote: " - 40% It's all coming back to me now, especially how much I loved this one. It's hard to imagine throwing yourself into fandom so completely as Darrien and Elle do. ..."

Squee! I'm so happy you suggested this reread :D SUCH FUN (view spoiler)[
I can totally imagine throwing myself that much into a fandom - I wish I had done when I was younger, but I never quite committed to one fandom I guess. It just seems like so much fun! I've never been to a Con - well, I've been to YALC but it's not the same because no one cosplays or anything. I'd like to try it!

I listened too - the narration is fantastic and I think that both the actors do so well at doing young people. Particularly the woman who voices Elle is FAB at doing all the secondary characters - Sage, the evil stepsisters, stepmother... they're all so individual and work so well (hide spoiler)]

Are you ready to start 3/31?

Celia wrote: " 50% [spoilers removed]

84% (where I stopped this afternoon) I'd forgotten about Lonnie's arc into a true friend for Darrien. I liked seeing the way he stepped up.

..."

Up to 84% (view spoiler)[ I know - there are so many great secondary characters as well as the MCs! that's one of the best things about this book. I love the relationship growing between Sage and Calliope (also, cool names!). And Gail is such a sweetie - she feels like such a real character; I can feel her anxiety and how she's caught between Darrien and his father.

I'd forgotten quite how transformative Calliope's story arc was as well, and totally forgotten about Lonnie's existence! I wish Star Field was real and I was about 16 again lol (hide spoiler)]

To end (view spoiler)[
I agree, love love this - even more a second time round :) I have read (listened to) the whole series, and this is definitely my favourite, just as a heads up. The second one is still pretty fun - but I think I was basically frustrated by the third one :( Hoping I find a different experience this time... fingers crossed! (hide spoiler)]


Thanks so much for suggesting this; I've just had so much fun :)

Celia wrote: "Are you ready to start 3/31?"

Sorry, just saw this - 3rd will be excellent :) i am now going to WRITE IT DOWN so I don't forget lol

- 15% (view spoiler)[I'm not as familiar with The Prince and the Pauper as a fairytale (only really with the Barbie version lol) but this one is starting off interestingly. I still don't know if I like Jess, I certainly didn't love her in the previous book. I'd say her inner nerdiness is coming through slightly with all the Harry Potter references though.

Not sure how I feel yet about Imogen either. She seems... intense. It's definitely not Elle and Darien for me either.

It's interesting that we were thrown into the Excelsicon setting this time without any buildup of the characters' lives (unlike in Geekerella). I'm not sure yet if I like one or the other better.

I also don't love the audio narrators on this one, they're both kind of whiny and almost indistinguishable from each other. (hide spoiler)]

51% (view spoiler)[From the description I thought the romance would be Jess and Imogene, so all the descriptions of the men Imogene was into really threw me. I actually really like that it's Imogene and Ethan; Jess and Harper (although I am disappointed that Imogene and Harper haven't met yet. I have an online best friend who I also met through fanfiction communities and the first time I met her in person was special. I hate that Imogene and Harper don't get to have that because of the swap, or at least not yet).

made me want to experience a con, but this one is pushing those desires to another level.

I love Darien in this one. He's so ready to accept anything, and Ashley Poston has done a good job of keeping his character consistent as a main character and a side character. He wasn't necessarily my favorite character in his own story, but he's definitely one of my favorites in this one. (hide spoiler)]

61% (view spoiler)[Aaaaghhhh! So much angst! Jess - just tell Harper before this gets any worse. Imogene - let yourself have feelings for once. Ethan - let Imogene in a little more about everything, it's the least you can do. Jess and Imogene - TALK TO EACH OTHER!

Okay, but Jess is definitely growing on me, in the same way that Darien did originally. Imogene on the other hand - she's just so clueless. Like, she needs to have some actual conversations with people.

I'm still convinced Jasper (I think that's his name - Imogene's ex) is the leaker. It's a little too similar to Brian in the last one, reusing an old plot.

Loving the cameos in this one. I'm happy with how much we're seeing of Sage and Cal as well as Darien and Elle. Honestly, I'm still salty that Sage and Cal don't get a spinoff, even if it's a short story. (hide spoiler)]

I took a study break to read the in-between short story Once at Midnight (1.5) (the link to all three of them is here: https://static1.squarespace.com/stati... if you're interested, they're each about 20 pages).


(view spoiler)[This one was cute, surrounding Elle and Darien's first official date. Chloe is still the villain in this one, though she's toned down a lot from Geekerella. I liked seeing the progression of their relationship in the time between the con and the premiere, as well as Sage and Cal's. I will reiterate that Sage and Cal really need a spinoff. (hide spoiler)]

- FINISHED (view spoiler)[OMG this was great. I loved the arc in this one, and the cameos absolutely made the story. I loved Elle and Darien as side characters in this one. And Cal trying to keep Frank from drinking the Oh No! drink at the party was hilarious. And then Sage handing Jess the megaphone at the end to make her point, and Harper goes, "did you just Romeo and Juliet me?"

I like how the romance ended a lot more subtly on this one and was less of a whirlwind compared to Darien and Elle's. (hide spoiler)]

Celia wrote: " - 15% I'm not as familiar with The Prince and the Pauper as a fairytale (only really with the Barbie version lol) but this one is starting off inte..."


So, apologies for TOTALLY FAILING on the keeping up to speed thing. I'm just useless, I don't really have any reasons. (I finished it before I got out of signal land so these are notes from a while ago...)

15% (view spoiler)[
I'm not at all familiar with The Princess and The Pauper; I had literally only just made the connection reading your comment *facepalm*

I agree - Jess is just so easily dislikeable! I wonder whether Poston had intended Geekerella to be a series when she started with, because otherwise you'd think she'd make Jess more likeable in book one? And the nerdy references feel so shoe-horned in, as well as the fact that she begins to like Starfield... I did not warm to her. Well, I did a bit - but nowhere near enough to make her a good MC for me...

I thought it was odd being thrown straight into the con - backstory would've improved it IMO...

And, lol, about the audio narrators - I thought it was just me being dopey but their voices really do sound similar, right?? (hide spoiler)]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "So, apologies for TOTALLY FAILING on the keeping up to speed thing. I'm just useless, I don't really have any reasons. (I finished it before I got out of signal land so these are notes from a while ago...)"

You're fine

Celia wrote: "51% From the description I thought the romance would be Jess and Imogene, so all the descriptions of the men Imogene was into really threw me. I actually really like that it's Imogene and Ethan; Je..."

(view spoiler)[ That's so cool that you have a through fanfiction - I have a really amazing friend who I 'met' on bookstagram and then I ended up being bridesemaid at her wedding earlier this month!! It was sooooo special - so, I agree the fact that Imogene and Harper not meeting is kind of heartbreaking. It's such a big deal.

And, YES, I would love to go to a con... I don't think I could deal with the busy-ness tbh, but I love the idea so at least I can live it vicariously (if somewhat enviously).

Interesting what you thought about the romances - I honestly can't remember what I thought first time through! I probably avoided reading the blurb anyway lol.

And, yes, I agree that Darien is a much more likeable side character than main character. Still so many issues with Jess... (hide spoiler)]

Celia wrote: "61% Aaaaghhhh! So much angst! Jess - just tell Harper before this gets any worse. Imogene - let yourself have feelings for once. Ethan - let Imogene in a little more about everything, it's the leas..."

(view spoiler)[ I love that you're reading it for the first time; it's fun for me! Also glad that you're enjoying it more than me - I just felt such a let down after Geekerella :( (fricking love that book!) The characters just... I don't know. Jess was a real problem. And I hadn't thought about it until you said, but starting at the con didn't work as well either.

It's interesting that you find Imogene more irritating and I find Jess more irritating!

The cameos and side characters are definitely better than the MCs... it's interesting... (hide spoiler)]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "15%"

(view spoiler)[I definitely agree that Poston may not have intended to make a series from the beginning (hide spoiler)]

Celia wrote: " - FINISHED OMG this was great. I loved the arc in this one, and the cameos absolutely made the story. I loved Elle and Darien as side characters in..."

(view spoiler)[ Aw, I'm so glad you enjoyed it so much! I wish I could say the same... it just didn't do it for me :( I was hoping a reread (listen) would improve matters but I think it just made my original opinion stronger...

I agree that the more subtle romance was better but that was about it. My favourite bits were definitely the cameos - I'd like a Sage/Cal story too! But, ultimately this remained a disappointment for me :( (hide spoiler)]

Celia wrote: "I took a study break to read the in-between short story Once at Midnight (1.5) (the link to all three of them is here: https://static1.squarespace.com/stati......"

Ooooh, thank you! I'm having real concentration problems at the moment (migraines and general stress), so something easy and short sounds just perfect :) There better be Sage in a sidestory! Thanks so much for finding these :D

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "51%"

Leakycon the Harry Potter one is near my hometown in August and we're making plans to go. I don't know if I could handle the crowds and everything as much either but these books have ignited something in me.

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "short stories"

(view spoiler)[Unfortunately there's no Sage and Cal story, I'm so pissed about that (hide spoiler)]

Celia wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "https://static1.squarespace.com/stati......"

[spoilers removed]"

WHHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!? Sacrilege!!

Celia wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "51%"

Leakycon the Harry Potter one is near my hometown in August and we're making plans to go. I don't know if I could handle the crowds and everything as much ei..."

I haven't heard of that one but have an AWESOME time! :D Will you be meeting anyone there? So exciting!!

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "https://static1.squarespace.com/stati......"

[spoilers removed]"

WHHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!? Sacrilege!!"

Before reading this one when I read Geekerella the first time I was honestly hoping and expecting The Princess and the Fangirl would be Sage and Cal's story because of the lesbian tag, I was disappointed when it wasn't.

Celia wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "https://static1.squarespace.com/stati......"

[spoilers removed]"

WHHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!? Sacrilege!!"

Before reading thi..."

And I didn't even notice the lesbian tag because I'm so wary of being spoiled haha. I guess I'd rather my experience and not be disappointed

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "51%"

Leakycon the Harry Potter one is near my hometown in August and we're making plans to go. I don't know if I could handle the crowds and everyth..."

I'll be going with my online fanfiction friend. They have three minor actors from the original films (Percy Weasley, Viktor Krum, and Oliver Wood) as well as some really minor actors (stunt doubles and young Sirius Black - I can't even remember which movie that would have been, Order of the Phoenix maybe? with Snape's memory?). It's expensive though so I'm not sure if I'd be meeting anyone from the movies. I'm most excited to do some sort of cosplay, as I've never really done it before, although I've done some sort of Harry Potter character for Halloween like ten times since third grade.

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Celia wrote: "https://static1.squarespace.com/stati......"

[spoilers removed]"

WHHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!? Sacrilege!!"

Befo..."

That's fair