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ohshanada's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
loonatrum's review against another edition
5.0
this book is perfect. i loved everything about it gosh gosh GOSH
ahlisa's review against another edition
I added this to my TBR when I was still part of the target audience, but I think I've grown out of it.
tonyanicole's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
crosswarrior7's review against another edition
4.0
Short review: Four stars. Loved this book way more than I expected to. Couldn’t stop listening. It is an adorable, geektastic retelling.
Okay, now for the longer review where I ramble more about what I just said! To show how much I enjoyed this, I mostly only listen to audiobooks while driving, and I would legit find reasons to be in the car longer, such as offering to help get things and taking longer routes, just to listen to this book more.
I have always loved plain character x famous character stories, and I think that’s part of why I’ve always adored Cinderella retellings. Especially modern ones where the famous person is a celebrity rather than a prince. On top of this, I’m a nerd, and I’m proud of it. So seeing Cinderella meets nerd culture... Yeah, I think you understand why I picked up this book.
It says in its blurb that it is a love letter to nerd culture, and I entirely agree. Whereas other books claim to be, they only have nerdy characters, but this book without a doubt is a true love letter to fandom culture.
The made-up fandom of Starfield interlaces every aspect of this story, showing the power of a fandom on not only an individual, but as a moving community force. There was this cheesy moment that kinda had me rolling my eyes, but it also gave me chills at how it showed the unity created by fandoms.
Elle and Darien did great in their parts of Cinderella and Prince Charming, while still being well rounded characters. Their interactions with each other were adorable, hilarious, and sometimes awkward do to some dramatic irony over their situations. I was also very glad to see some depth and issues given to our Prince Charming.
The characters really were great, but it’s just so hard to talk about them without wanting to gush about the nerdiness that just drove this tale, because these characters were extreme nerds, and I just want to gush about that. It was so nice. They were dorks. Very nerdy dorks. And so was so much of their lives. Elle’s mom and dad met at a con where they were cosplaying. Darien thrived upon seeing himself in the main character of Starfield and desiring to be that character one day himself, and so much of his growth centered around getting to play that character.
The side characters were also great and helped our characters along the way. Sage, our Fairy Godmother, was a perfect breath of fresh, sassy air for Elle. Darien’s assistant was adorakable and his body guard hilarious in such a dry way, and somehow these two very different characters made the perfect sort of parental backdrop for Darien.
Honestly, my main complaint is the one main complaint I have with all Cinderella retellings: the step-family. I understand that a core part of the retelling is having a horrid step-family, but it hits the point of annoying for me when they’re so over the top and so irredeemably that it makes zero sense why the oh-so-wonderful father ever would have married the woman. I’m not asking you to make her amazing, but at least don’t make her so 2D evil that her marriage to the father makes no sense.
The other complaint is more minor, and that is that the voices of the two characters could be a bit too similar. Like I’m 90% sure they both said “holy “crazy thing” Batman!” which became really noticeable. Sure, a nerdy thing, but both of them using it so often just felt more like the author’s voice than the characters.
Overall, if you like dorky romances and are a nerdy, fandom loving person, I highly recommend this book. Go read it. Read it right now! It's definitely worth it :D
Okay, now for the longer review where I ramble more about what I just said! To show how much I enjoyed this, I mostly only listen to audiobooks while driving, and I would legit find reasons to be in the car longer, such as offering to help get things and taking longer routes, just to listen to this book more.
I have always loved plain character x famous character stories, and I think that’s part of why I’ve always adored Cinderella retellings. Especially modern ones where the famous person is a celebrity rather than a prince. On top of this, I’m a nerd, and I’m proud of it. So seeing Cinderella meets nerd culture... Yeah, I think you understand why I picked up this book.
It says in its blurb that it is a love letter to nerd culture, and I entirely agree. Whereas other books claim to be, they only have nerdy characters, but this book without a doubt is a true love letter to fandom culture.
The made-up fandom of Starfield interlaces every aspect of this story, showing the power of a fandom on not only an individual, but as a moving community force. There was this cheesy moment that kinda had me rolling my eyes, but it also gave me chills at how it showed the unity created by fandoms.
Elle and Darien did great in their parts of Cinderella and Prince Charming, while still being well rounded characters. Their interactions with each other were adorable, hilarious, and sometimes awkward do to some dramatic irony over their situations. I was also very glad to see some depth and issues given to our Prince Charming.
The characters really were great, but it’s just so hard to talk about them without wanting to gush about the nerdiness that just drove this tale, because these characters were extreme nerds, and I just want to gush about that. It was so nice. They were dorks. Very nerdy dorks. And so was so much of their lives. Elle’s mom and dad met at a con where they were cosplaying. Darien thrived upon seeing himself in the main character of Starfield and desiring to be that character one day himself, and so much of his growth centered around getting to play that character.
The side characters were also great and helped our characters along the way. Sage, our Fairy Godmother, was a perfect breath of fresh, sassy air for Elle. Darien’s assistant was adorakable and his body guard hilarious in such a dry way, and somehow these two very different characters made the perfect sort of parental backdrop for Darien.
Honestly, my main complaint is the one main complaint I have with all Cinderella retellings: the step-family. I understand that a core part of the retelling is having a horrid step-family, but it hits the point of annoying for me when they’re so over the top and so irredeemably that it makes zero sense why the oh-so-wonderful father ever would have married the woman. I’m not asking you to make her amazing, but at least don’t make her so 2D evil that her marriage to the father makes no sense.
The other complaint is more minor, and that is that the voices of the two characters could be a bit too similar. Like I’m 90% sure they both said “holy “crazy thing” Batman!” which became really noticeable. Sure, a nerdy thing, but both of them using it so often just felt more like the author’s voice than the characters.
Overall, if you like dorky romances and are a nerdy, fandom loving person, I highly recommend this book. Go read it. Read it right now! It's definitely worth it :D
thereticentseer's review against another edition
4.0
Such a dorky, whimsy story :D I love that the retelling aspect takes place in a modern, present-day-ish setting while still making the Cinderella tale look and feel fresh.
abbyl819's review against another edition
5.0
As an obsessive fangirl myself, I absolutely loved this book! After having read books covering similar fangirl themes, such as Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia, I had high expectations for loving this book, and Ashley Poston did not disappoint. I was definitely not expecting to read this entire book in a few hours, but I loved every moment of it. This modern Cinderella retelling tied in the fan life aspect perfectly. Although I found some parts of the story predictable, I enjoyed going through the twists and turns of this story alongside Elle as she discovered more about her father, family, and fandom.
kkoerth613's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this so much, definitely one of my favs now. Loved the modern twist on a classic tale. Although Brian, Catherine and Chloe got on my nerves so much.
dunder_mifflin's review against another edition
5.0
i didn't expect to love this so much, but i did. i really, really enjoyed this. i was rooting for the straights so hard. and then cal/sage happened i was like HOLY SHIT YES. and idk i just... loved this so, so much adshfghuosk.