Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Read

Amazon

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Screenwise Verdict

Geekerella is exactly what it promises: a sweet, fluffy YA romance wrapped in a love letter to fandom culture. It's not going to change your life or make you think deeply about the human condition, but it will make you smile and maybe inspire you to embrace your inner geek.

The Cinderella framework is familiar but the fandom twist keeps it fresh—Elle's passion for Starfield and her DIY cosplay project feel authentic to geek culture rather than condescending. The dual narrative works well, giving readers insight into both the struggling fan and the celebrity who just wants to be taken seriously.

This is comfort food reading: safe, wholesome, and genuinely sweet without being saccharine. The stepfamily is cartoonishly mean in true fairy-tale fashion, but it never gets dark enough to be triggering. Perfect for readers who want to escape into a world where passion projects pay off, true love exists, and fandom communities are full of supportive people.

Not a must-read literary masterpiece, but a solid, enjoyable YA romance that celebrates being yourself and finding your people. If your teen loves cons, cosplay, or just wants a feel-good romance, this delivers.

Age Fit

Best for ages 12-17, particularly readers who love fandom culture, cosplay, or fairy tale retellings. The romance is clean enough for middle schoolers but the themes of identity, loss, and finding your community will resonate most with teens. Adults who love YA romance or geek culture will enjoy it too.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

A sweet, light romance that celebrates kindness, perseverance, and staying true to yourself. Elle deals with controlling stepfamily members but responds with resilience rather than bitterness. The dual narrative between Elle and Darien models empathy and understanding across different life circumstances. Romance is clean and age-appropriate—no sexual content, just genuine connection. The stepmother/stepsister dynamics are manipulative but handled in a fairy-tale framework that doesn't feel traumatic.

Imaginative

82

A clever Cinderella retelling set in fandom culture that celebrates creativity through cosplay, fan communities, and sci-fi worldbuilding. The fictional Starfield series-within-the-story adds layers of imagination, and Elle's DIY cosplay project showcases resourcefulness and artistic expression. The book invites readers into geek culture authentically, making it feel like a love letter to anyone who's ever been passionate about a fictional world. Not groundbreaking in structure, but the fandom lens is fresh and engaging.

Safe

95

Extremely safe content with no violence, sexual content, substance use, or profanity. Common Sense Media confirms it's light romance suitable for teens. The controlling stepfamily could be emotionally difficult for some readers dealing with similar situations, but it's handled in a fairy-tale context without graphic abuse. No trigger warnings needed—this is about as safe as YA romance gets. The only minor concern is that readers with toxic family dynamics might find the stepmother/stepsister portrayal resonant in uncomfortable ways.

Enriching

76

Celebrates fandom, passion, and finding your people—valuable messages about community and authenticity. The dual perspective helps readers understand how fame and judgment affect real people behind celebrity personas. Elle's journey models resilience in the face of loss (her father's death) and adversity (stepfamily mistreatment). However, it's primarily entertainment-focused fluff rather than deeply thought-provoking literature. The Cinderella framework is familiar and comforting but doesn't break new thematic ground. Still, it validates geek culture and encourages readers to embrace their interests unapologetically.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Perfect for teens who love fandom culture—validates being passionate about fictional worlds and celebrates geek identity without mockery
Clean romance that focuses on genuine connection and understanding rather than physical attraction (no sexual content, just sweet)
Dual narrative between a struggling fan-girl and a celebrity teen actor offers perspective on fame, judgment, and authenticity
Elle's resilience in dealing with loss and a toxic stepfamily models healthy coping without getting dark or traumatic
The cosplay competition storyline encourages creativity, resourcefulness, and DIY artistry

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What to Watch For

Stepmother and stepsisters are controlling and emotionally manipulative—handled in fairy-tale fashion but might resonate uncomfortably for kids in similar family situations
Very light on plot complexity—this is fluffy romance first, everything else second (which is fine, but don't expect deep literary merit)
The Starfield fandom is fictional, so kids expecting real sci-fi references might be disappointed

Conversation Starters

"If you could cosplay as any character from your favorite show or book, who would it be and why?"
"Have you ever felt judged for liking something that other people thought was weird or nerdy? How did that feel?"
"Darien struggles with people assuming he's just a dumb heartthrob—have you ever felt like people made assumptions about you based on how you look?"
"Elle finds community with other Starfield fans online and at cons—what communities make you feel like you belong?"

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