Look to the Stars. Aim. Ignite! Welp, the totes adorbs factor is absolutely off the charts on this one. It’s an absolute must-read for any boy, girl, man, or woman who considers him or herself to be a part of any fandom. Is it predictable? Well, duh. But that’s more than okay. Let’s look at the title and analyze the cover. GeekERELLA. A pumpkin (okay, it’s a food truck instead of a coach). Girl in ball gown (wearing all-access pass to a comic-con event). One missing shoe. Could it be a Cinderella retelling? You bet. Is it unlike one you’ve ever read before? Again, you bet.
I don’t even need to tell you that Ella’s parents are dead and stepmonster and stepsisters are, well, y’know. Ella works in a vegan pumpkin food truck (lol) with Sage, a strange, green-haired girl Ella’s own age who does not seem interested in becoming friends. Ooookaaaaayyyy. Ella is probably the world’s biggest fan of the old TV show, Starfield (think Star Trek meets Battlestar Galactica). No one except her Dad was a bigger fan. He was SUCH a big fan that he invented ExcelsiCon. He was SUCH a big fan that he met Ella’s mom while he was cosplaying Carmindor (think, Captain Kirk) and she was cosplaying Princess Amara (think, uh, Princess Lea). Ella’s stepmonster didn’t approve of anything to do with Starfield when it came to her dad so she certainly doesn’t approve of Ella having anything to do with it. As far as Ella knows, any mementos relating to her family’s love of Starfield are long gone. But there’s something she doesn’t know about so it’s something she can’t take away - Ella is a longtime writer of a Starfield blog (Rebelgunner). Now that a Starfield reboot movie is being made with Seaside Cove (think, any hit show on the WB) star, Darien Freeman, as Carmindor, Elle has A LOT to say on her blog about how there’s no way this ab-insured wannabe can play Carmindor. Through serendipity, Darien ends up calling Elle (he’s scheduled to appear at ExcelsiCon and wants to get out of it - Elle’s dad’s number is on the website - Elle has Dad’s phone). They have a weird chemistry and start a texting relationship. A texting relationship that changes everything.
The story is told in alternating POVs - Ella’s and Darien’s. I love that we get to learn about both characters so fully (Ella is COMPLETELY wrong about Darien <3). The story includes so many heart throbbing moments (none of these are spoilers) - Sage and Ella’s eventual friendship! Ella finding her parents’ cosplay costumes! ExcelsiCon! The cosplay masquerade ball! And the happy ending everyone knows is coming. If you feel like smiling for several hours, reading this book is the thing to do.