💫🎤 Book Spotlight: Geekerella by Ashley Poston
Genre: YA Contemporary • Geeky Romance • Cinderella Retelling

☕ Book Details & Rating
Format: Audiobook (or specify if different)
Series: Once Upon a Con #1
Year Published: 2017
Page Count: 320
Rating: ☕☕☕☕½ (4.5 Coffees)

🥤 Coffee Pairing: Galaxy Caramel Cold Brew with Whipped Stardust

Fun, sweet, and full of fandom sparkle — just like Geekerella.
The caramel swirl captures Elle’s big heart, the cold brew brings Darien’s steady strength, and the edible glitter (stardust!) nods to the magic of fandoms bringing people together.
Perfect for sipping while dreaming of Starfield, cosplay, and happily-ever-afters. 🚀✨

About the Book

Geekerella is a modern, geeky twist on the classic Cinderella story, set in a world where fandom is everything. Elle Wittimer is a lifelong devotee of Starfield, the sci-fi show she bonded over with her late father. A cosplay contest offers a chance to attend the ExcelsiCon Gala. It may also allow her to escape her miserable home life. Elle jumps at this opportunity.

Across town, teen heartthrob Darien Freeman has just been cast as Starfield’s beloved lead… and the fandom is not thrilled. Behind the scenes, Darien is a genuine fan struggling with fame, pressure, and the fear of letting everyone down.

When Elle and Darien accidentally connect through text, neither knows the other’s identity—but their messages spark something real. As ExcelsiCon approaches, their worlds are set to collide in a whirlwind of fandom, fairy-tale magic, and finding your people.

My Opinion

I love a fairy-tale retelling, and this one did not disappoint. Geekerella is a modern-day Cinderella retelling with a comic-con twist, and the fandom references made the whole story feel so fun and nostalgic. The TV show Darien stars in reads like a mash-up of Star Trek and Doctor Who—honestly, I’d watch that in real life!

“She reaches out to take the jacket. I hesitate for a moment, like Frodo with his Ring, but then I remember how much crap Frodo walked into and I’d rather not end up like Frodo. So I give it to Sage.”
― Ashley Poston, Geekerella

Elle is pretty down on her luck when we meet her. Her dad is gone, and she’s left with her stepmother and twin stepsisters who’ve basically made her a servant in her own home. Her witch of a stepmother has thrown away almost everything that belonged to Elle’s mom, and her stepsisters? Chloe is irredeemably awful, while Cal is more of a spineless follower who goes along with the cruelty. With a family like that, it’s no wonder Elle has zero confidence. The one bright spot in her life is her Starfield blog—a small, devoted corner of the internet where she finally feels seen.

Darien, meanwhile, is a closet geek hiding behind a too-cool persona. He genuinely loves the original Starfield, but because he stars on the teen drama Seaside Cove, he has to protect his carefully crafted image. At just 18, he’s already navigating the minefield of celebrity life—trust issues, constant pressure, and fans everywhere he goes.

The mistaken/unknown identity element is such a delight. It gives major You’ve Got Mail vibes, except neither knows who they’re texting. It also adds a fun enemies-to-lovers twist since Elle dragged Darien on her blog when he was cast as the lead—and he definitely saw it. Their text exchanges are adorable: he boosts her confidence, she helps him feel more grounded, and neither realizes they’re falling for exactly the person they think they dislike.

“It’s easier to be who you want to be when aren’t trying to be who everyone else thinks you are.”
― Ashley Poston, Geekerella

The character development throughout the book is fantastic. Elle goes from being completely alone to forming a beautiful friendship with Sage, her co-worker and eventual partner-in-chaos. Sage pushes Elle to stand up for herself and embrace who she is, and their friendship is genuinely heartwarming. Darien, for his part, grows out of his Hollywood shell and lets his inner nerd shine—one of my favorite arcs. Even the stepmother gets a sliver of humanity when we learn why she resented Elle’s father so deeply, though it definitely doesn’t excuse her actions. And in true Cinderella fashion, one stepsister gets a redemption arc—Cal finally grows a backbone and chooses kindness over cruelty.

Poston does a great job in the YA genre. She captures the emotions of teenagers beautifully—the angst, the uncertainty, the first loves, the longing to belong—it’s all there. The dual POV adds so much depth to the story, letting us experience both characters’ insecurities, hopes, and misunderstandings in a way that feels intimate and genuinely heartfelt. And while the book dives into real emotional stakes, Poston keeps it clean with only minor innuendos and light language, making it a great fit for younger readers and adults who love a good coming-of-age swoon.

Final Thoughts

Geekerella is everything I want in a YA retelling—sweet, heartfelt, fandom-filled, and full of character growth. It balances charm and emotion so well, and the dual POV makes the romance feel that much richer. Whether you love Cinderella, Comic-Con culture, or just a good “find your people” story, this one hits all the right notes. I closed the book smiling—and honestly, wishing Starfield were real.