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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
This was a nice little conclusion. I guess that if I want to know why were not doing so well for the span of a few weeks, then I should probably read the short stories?
Spoiler
Elle and Darien
This one was really cheesy and didn't live up to the other two. It still made me cry though.
Compared to the other two books in the series, I couldn't get into [b:Bookish and the Beast|49392936|Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon a Con, #3)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364475l/49392936._SY75_.jpg|69869613] as much. The characters were pretty dry, and there wasn't really a reason to root for either of them, not the same way as I did with Darien and Elle or Jess and Imogen. Yes, Imogen's book obsession was comforting, but there wasn't a lot there with her. And Vance... I kind of wish the last book had centered around Calvin instead of introducing a whole new character in the last book just to be the "beast" in the Beauty and the Beast retelling. Calvin would have already worked as the beast in my opinion.
Because [b:Bookish and the Beast|49392936|Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon a Con, #3)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364475l/49392936._SY75_.jpg|69869613] didn't center around the convention as much, I didn't feel the wonder of the fandom community as much. It was more, Garrett is a dick, Vance is also kind of a dick but into Starfield, and Rosie is... too much like me for me to enjoy reading my own story placed into this Beauty and the Beast setting? I don't know.
As for the plot, I felt it replicated [b:Geekerella|30724132|Geekerella (Once Upon a Con, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476734515l/30724132._SY75_.jpg|50652411] a little too closely rather than using its own story. I did like that about [b:The Princess and the Fangirl|39725622|The Princess and the Fangirl (Once Upon a Con, #2)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542265229l/39725622._SY75_.jpg|61408547], that it was a very different story, so I didn't appreciate the recycling of the plot here. A dead parent who is the whole reason behind everything Starfield in the FMC's life, two characters who start off disliking each other in a not quite enemies-to-lovers plot... and then there was all the stuff about Darien and Elle that seemed completely forced (and I have to say, most of what I was interested in through the story - Rosie and Vance weren't important compared to the original ship). But I didn't like the way Darien and Elle's story was just reused in [b:Bookish and the Beast|49392936|Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon a Con, #3)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364475l/49392936._SY75_.jpg|69869613].
As an aside, [b:Bookish and the Beast|49392936|Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon a Con, #3)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364475l/49392936._SY75_.jpg|69869613] made me way more confused about Starfield. The fictional series seems to do the same thing as this book in terms of adding another character who doesn't make sense with what we knew of the story before.
I'm glad I decided to listen to this series instead of visually reading it. I don't know if I would have made it through otherwise. But listening to it was fully immersive and made me want to become a convention person. Each narrator was expertly chosen for the characters, and I felt like I was an onlooker at the conventions by reading this.
I know there's a lot of debate about stories that paint celebrities or royal figures as having a difficult life, and whether these stories are fair to enjoy or these characters are fair to sympathize with when there are so many real problems in the world. I'm not sure how to feel about liking these kind of stories, but they're definitely better when they include multiple POVs with perspectives from everyday people. Throughout this series, I've loved the exploration of the "impossible universe" and the acknowledgement of how impossible these scenarios would actually be. It's a strong reminder that these stories won't be everyone's fairytale, and essentially, that's what they are: fairy tales. I don't know if the term "realistic fantasy" is an actual term used to describe anything, but that's exactly what the Once Upon a Con books are. I don't mean magical realism, because there's nothing that technically couldn't happen, it's just that it doesn't. The Once Upon a Con series was just as escapist as most fantasies, if not more because they included realistic small-scale conflicts.
I'd definitely consider asking for these for Christmas or a birthday, and I wouldn't say no if I ended up with free copies. They're the kind of books that I'd like to have to show that I read them, and maybe to eventually reread.
Compared to the other two books in the series, I couldn't get into [b:Bookish and the Beast|49392936|Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon a Con, #3)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364475l/49392936._SY75_.jpg|69869613] as much. The characters were pretty dry, and there wasn't really a reason to root for either of them, not the same way as I did with Darien and Elle or Jess and Imogen. Yes, Imogen's book obsession was comforting, but there wasn't a lot there with her. And Vance... I kind of wish the last book had centered around Calvin instead of introducing a whole new character in the last book just to be the "beast" in the Beauty and the Beast retelling. Calvin would have already worked as the beast in my opinion.
Because [b:Bookish and the Beast|49392936|Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon a Con, #3)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364475l/49392936._SY75_.jpg|69869613] didn't center around the convention as much, I didn't feel the wonder of the fandom community as much. It was more, Garrett is a dick, Vance is also kind of a dick but into Starfield, and Rosie is... too much like me for me to enjoy reading my own story placed into this Beauty and the Beast setting? I don't know.
As for the plot, I felt it replicated [b:Geekerella|30724132|Geekerella (Once Upon a Con, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476734515l/30724132._SY75_.jpg|50652411] a little too closely rather than using its own story. I did like that about [b:The Princess and the Fangirl|39725622|The Princess and the Fangirl (Once Upon a Con, #2)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542265229l/39725622._SY75_.jpg|61408547], that it was a very different story, so I didn't appreciate the recycling of the plot here. A dead parent who is the whole reason behind everything Starfield in the FMC's life, two characters who start off disliking each other in a not quite enemies-to-lovers plot... and then there was all the stuff about Darien and Elle that seemed completely forced (and I have to say, most of what I was interested in through the story - Rosie and Vance weren't important compared to the original ship). But I didn't like the way Darien and Elle's story was just reused in [b:Bookish and the Beast|49392936|Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon a Con, #3)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364475l/49392936._SY75_.jpg|69869613].
As an aside, [b:Bookish and the Beast|49392936|Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon a Con, #3)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581364475l/49392936._SY75_.jpg|69869613] made me way more confused about Starfield. The fictional series seems to do the same thing as this book in terms of adding another character who doesn't make sense with what we knew of the story before.
I'm glad I decided to listen to this series instead of visually reading it. I don't know if I would have made it through otherwise. But listening to it was fully immersive and made me want to become a convention person. Each narrator was expertly chosen for the characters, and I felt like I was an onlooker at the conventions by reading this.
I know there's a lot of debate about stories that paint celebrities or royal figures as having a difficult life, and whether these stories are fair to enjoy or these characters are fair to sympathize with when there are so many real problems in the world. I'm not sure how to feel about liking these kind of stories, but they're definitely better when they include multiple POVs with perspectives from everyday people. Throughout this series, I've loved the exploration of the "impossible universe" and the acknowledgement of how impossible these scenarios would actually be. It's a strong reminder that these stories won't be everyone's fairytale, and essentially, that's what they are: fairy tales. I don't know if the term "realistic fantasy" is an actual term used to describe anything, but that's exactly what the Once Upon a Con books are. I don't mean magical realism, because there's nothing that technically couldn't happen, it's just that it doesn't. The Once Upon a Con series was just as escapist as most fantasies, if not more because they included realistic small-scale conflicts.
I'd definitely consider asking for these for Christmas or a birthday, and I wouldn't say no if I ended up with free copies. They're the kind of books that I'd like to have to show that I read them, and maybe to eventually reread.
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Ashley Poston returns to her wonderful world of geeks, fans and lovers o sci-fi in this third installment of her "Once Upon a Con" series! And it couldn't be better as this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, in a beautiful setting with libraries, cute dogs a spoiled actor and a young girl who is also strong and brave and every bit a contemporary Belle.
Vance is "exiled" to a castle-house by his stepfather as his actions resulted in him being the black sheep in the cinema and tv industry. But when Rosie literally falls into his life, they will both discover that their shared love for the book series they both know and their common hardships can bring them closer and well..." there might be something there that wasn't there before".
This was a very cute book. It was light-hearted and funny with a dose of references to the book series every character in this story knows. Seriously I think that Ashley Poston should write this book series just so I can read it!
I liked the growth of Vance from a spoiled boy to a maturing man. Rosie's influence and her kindness also played a role. And the cameos from the other characters from the other books were also a great touch!
Definitely recommended!
Ashley Poston returns to her wonderful world of geeks, fans and lovers o sci-fi in this third installment of her "Once Upon a Con" series! And it couldn't be better as this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, in a beautiful setting with libraries, cute dogs a spoiled actor and a young girl who is also strong and brave and every bit a contemporary Belle.
Vance is "exiled" to a castle-house by his stepfather as his actions resulted in him being the black sheep in the cinema and tv industry. But when Rosie literally falls into his life, they will both discover that their shared love for the book series they both know and their common hardships can bring them closer and well..." there might be something there that wasn't there before".
This was a very cute book. It was light-hearted and funny with a dose of references to the book series every character in this story knows. Seriously I think that Ashley Poston should write this book series just so I can read it!
I liked the growth of Vance from a spoiled boy to a maturing man. Rosie's influence and her kindness also played a role. And the cameos from the other characters from the other books were also a great touch!
Definitely recommended!
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Didn’t realize it was YA at first. tried to push though but just could do it. Nothing wrong with the book. I just prefer to read about adult characters.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such a cute YA romance book!! 🤍
3.5
This is pretty cute overall. I think it needed a little more pages to develop the story.
You can read this as a standalone, but the first book does give context to the fandom universe. I do enjoy the fandom aspects of this series overall though. I think Ashley Poston did great with the Beauty and the Beast set up take. It worked really well for me and is a favorite trope.
This is pretty cute overall. I think it needed a little more pages to develop the story.
You can read this as a standalone, but the first book does give context to the fandom universe. I do enjoy the fandom aspects of this series overall though. I think Ashley Poston did great with the Beauty and the Beast set up take. It worked really well for me and is a favorite trope.