*I was sent this book by GoodReads. I won a giveaway that was on their site run by Quirk Book, I did not purchase this book.*
Geekerella by Ashley Poston and Princess Mia by Meg Cabot
Boy oh boy, these two books are packed with girls who are breaking down barriers and making names for themselves.
Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale. 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. 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.
When I started reading this book I really didn’t think I was going to like it. I have never been into any sic-fi books or really understood the cult following for things like Star Wars and Star Trek, but I am a fangirl. So I do understand the undying love people have for these things.
Before we talk about the content of the book, I want to talk about the quality of the book itself. The cover art is amazing, the front shows Elle (with the bright red hair) and her friend Sage (with the bright green hair) and the food truck that they work on. And on the back of the cover, it is Darien and his trailer behind him. Then when you open the book there are pictures of what looks like the contents of Elle’s bag and Darien’s bag splayed across, giving us more insight to who the characters are. And then, last but not least, we have the pages itself. They are this true white and a heavy quality, making the reading experience so much more special.
Now, for the actual content of the book. Holy Holly Golightly. The story starts out as your usual cinderella story. A girl with the worst step-mother known to man and two sisters who suck, but then theres a wrong number that texts Elle and her whole world turns upside down. Instead of leaving it to a one time thing, Elle decides to text them back, developing a deep relationship with the person on the other line. Unlike Goldy Moldavsky’s Kill The Boy Band, this book is an ode to the world of fan-girling and actually gives you the validation you may be looking for instead of making you feel like another crazy whom the world doesn’t understand.
Elle is so different from other characters.
At first I thought she was your stereo-typical loner fan girl but then she started to branch out a little, she didn’t seem upset that she didn’t have friends she seemed content that way. Elle runs a blog dedicated to her favorite science fiction show “Starfield” with a small handful of followers but after she makes an angry blog post bashing the choice of main character for the revival, she goes viral. Slowly, Elle breaks out of her shell and makes more friends. She is funny and true to herself, she knows who she is and won’t let anyone stop her. Elle is sassy and fierce, someone I wish I knew.
Elle is not the only character who grows, we also have Elle’s step-sister Calliope who slowly throughout the book comes out of the shadow of her mom and her twin sister, and becomes her own person. Calliope helps Elle get what she deserves and befriends Sage along the way.
Princess Mia by Meg Cabot
Mia Thermopolis has hit a new all-time low: Her best friend isn’t speaking to her. Her grandmother’s counting on her to get her into the world’s most exclusive women’s society. Someone is posting horrible things about her on www.ihatemiathermopolis.com. And, oh yeah: Her longtime boyfriend has just dumped her.
But despite what the New York press seems to believe, this princess has more on her mind than recruiting a new Prince Charming, including finally snagging some self-actualization for herself, and–thanks to Grandmere–solving a four-hundred-year-old royal mystery that’s about to set Mia on a one-woman mission that could bring BIG changes to the little principality of Genovia.
But is Mia really ready to get rid of her tiara…especially if it means destroying a dynasty? Read the ninth–and next to last–installment of the Princess Diaries series to find out for yourself!
I have been reading the Princess Diaries series since I was in the sixth grade. I took a long break from the eighth grade until this year in college. Usually, when I write a review of one of the books in the series I have the same complaint each time. “There is no character development. She is too whiny.” But wow, was I in for a surprise in this book.
Mia goes through a painful breakup and wallows for longer than needed (in my humble opinion.) She spends ten days (give or take) in her Hello Kitty pajamas while watching T.V in bed. Not only that, but she is no longer a vegetarian! Both her mom and Mr. G beg her to get out of bed but that doesn’t work. So her mom calls in the big guys, her dad.
Her dad forces her to go to therapy which helps her finally get on her own two feet. (He has her dragged out of their apartment in her pajamas into the limo and brought to a doctors office.) I personally think that it’s important to have this moment in the story, breakups are painful and they suck. (At least, that’s what I have been told. I don’t have any experience of my own.) But at a point wallowing can become something that is unhealthy and we need to realize that. Mia goes to see Dr.Knutz and slowly she is able to get the help she needs when diagnosed with depression.
Mia and Lilly dont talk in this book. They have one conversation where Mia asks Lilly why she is ignoring her and Lilly blows up in her face. I personally think it’s for the best and I really hope we dont see much of Lilly in the next two books either, because she is not a good friend. I really like Tina, Shameeka, Boris and of course J.P.. Even though at first I felt the need to hate Lana, I started to warm up to her the closer she got to Mia. I really hope Lana and Trish will be real friends with Mia in the next two books too.
Mia and J.P are endgame for this series, or at least that’s how I feel right now. J.P. adores her and is willing to do whatever she wants, heck if she doesn’t date J.P. I will.
We have the final moment where Mia really grows and changes. She drops a bomb in her speech at a gala she was invited to speak at, without the permission of her grandmother or father, changing the fate of her life and the people of Genovia. Mia has always been one to stand up for what she believes in even if everyone around her is telling her not to, she is dedicated to making the world a better place.
Both Mia and Elle are fierce and passionate about their own things. They both want to get what they believe they and other people deserve and won’t let anyone stand in their way. Not only are they fierce, but they have strong friends who back them up and help them be who they really are. These are two books that scream girl power.
Have you read any of these books? Have any questions about these books? Let me know down in the comments! Can’t wait to hear from you guys!