Geekerella by Ashley Poston is a young adult novel that gives a modern twist to the original Cinderella story. When I received the book, I was a little hesitant because I did not think I would like it very much. I had seen plenty of Cinderella remakes, and this one in particular is about fan culture and talks a lot about a sci-fi series; two things I am not very familiar with. However, I am glad I read it because it was a fantastic read, and I highly recommend you pick up a copy when it comes out (on April 4th). This is a lesson for me to open my horizons when it comes to book genres because it is a great way to make discoveries!
Ella Wittimer is a teenage girl with a strong interest for a sci-fi series called Starfield. Her and her dad used to watch it together before he died, as this was an passion he shared with Ella's mom. Ella lives with her evil step-mother and step-sisters, who continuously try to make her life difficult. Through her fandom for the Starfield series, she meets a boy with whom she falls in love with, she participates in a cosplay contest, and attends a ball. Just like Cinderella, Ella has to leave the ball when the clock strikes midnight, driving in a food truck called the 'Magic Pumpkin' with her friend that acts as her Fairy Godmother. On her way out of the ball, she looses a glittery slipper, and the rest of the story follows...
Despite the fact that I know about the original Cinderella story, this story was a page-turner, and I could not wait to see how everything would unfold. Reading is a great way to learn about things you don't know, and I think this novel just proved that to me. It talks about fandom, what goes on behind the scenes of a movie, awkward relationships between people, Internet friends, and more. The story is in the perception of Ella, and also Darien Freeman (Ella's prince), so it is an interesting contrast to other books. It's a nerdy version of the classic tale that will for sure make you smile! If you love romantic stories, I'm sure you will love this one!
Geekerella published by Quirk Books, a division of Penguin Random House. Available April 4th.
*The book was gifted to me, but all opinions are my own.
