Cover Image: The Princess and the Fangirl

The Princess and the Fangirl

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I really liked the first book in this series. I thought it was cute and geeky and fun. I am not sure I am sold on this one though. This book will appeal to people who love the con scene and appreciate pop culture references. I feel as though it was very similar to other things that I have watched and read in the past. Predictable the whole way through but it was a quick read and a nice journey to go on.

Was this review helpful?

After 'Geekerella' I couldn't imagine that Ashley Poston coul do it again, but she did. 'The Princess and the Fanggirl' is a wonderful heartwarming, geeky, feminist book about the love for a fandom and the people who make it come alive.

On the background of Excelscon whe meet Imogen and Jessica two people at different ends of the Starfield Fandom. Imogen loved the Starfield series as long as she remembers and after the devastating end of the first re-make movie she started a petotion to bring the beloved character princess amara back to the screen life.
A person who couldn't care less about Amara is Jessica, the actress playing the female lead belong side Darrien Freeman, who we already meet in 'Geekerella' as the handsom Prince Carmindor.

Jessica doesn't see any potential in the role of a sci-fi princess when she was already nominated for an oscar. She would love to take on more challenging roles and is frustrated with the contract that binds her to Princess Amara for a pontential other movie. She wants to move her careen up and is hugely annoyed by the passionate fandom.

It happens that Imogen and Jessica cross paths and discover that they look alike. As Jessicas script for the next Starfield movie gets stolen she takes the chance and trades places with Imogen. Disguised as Imogen she can roam the floors of the convention freely and hopefully find the script thieve before he leaks some major plot points of the script.
Imogen is in for the deal because she sees it as a chance to work towards her goal to restore the dead Princess Amara as speaking out about her in Jessicas place.

Of course not everything is going well beyond the trade of places and both Jessica and Imogen need to understand the other persons perspective in order to maintain their secret.
I loved this book because it explored the love for fandoms deeper and shows different sides of it through the Actress and the Fangirl. It is hugely feministic and funny, a wonderful trip to fandom-land for a few hours.
As I learned to mention ist also has a f/f relationship which I loved and my beloved haters-to-lovers trope.

This book is about coming to terms at who Jessica and Imogen are, to accept themselves how they are and trusting other people with their real self.

Was this review helpful?

I received this as an earc on netgalley for an honest review. Okay so I didn’t love this as much as geekerella but I was happy to say I did enjoy it. I didn’t think I would like the main character because of how she was in geekerella but I found myself rooting for her towards the end. I gave this 4.25/5 stars. I really enjoyed it and the continuation to geekerella.

Was this review helpful?

In book two of her Once Upon a Con series, Ashley Poston puts a modern, female spin on The Prince and the Pauper featuring Imogen, a diehard comic geek and Jess, a jaded young actress who plays Princess Amara in a movie version of the time-honored Starfield series (with costar Geekerella’s Darien Freeman). In a case of mistaken identity, Imogen takes her place on a panel when Jess pulls a disappearing act and the stage is set for the switch.

Jess is desperate to make Oscar-worthy movies, fears being type-cast, and is on the run from the paparazzi. She also has a compulsive need to check social media despite being vilified and threatened by Amara fanatics who are faithful to the original TV star, Natalia Ford. It’s a cautionary tale about the evils of social media and how trolls can have a negative impact if you let them. This story is a gift to fans of ComicCons, but the overwhelming use of SciFi jargon (nerfherder, Muggle, Starflame, Noxballs, doge) necessitates a glossary for the uninitiated. It features a diverse cast of characters and several charming romantic relationships, including Imogen and Ethan’s love/hate and four LGBTQ pairings. Highly recommended for teen collections.


I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Quirk Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

I LOVE this book! Ashley Poston has done it again! My nerd heart was so excited and I felt like this book was a great companion to Geekerella. There were hints here and there and a ton of fandom! I want to go and reread it right this second!

Was this review helpful?

This was a wonderful addition to the Once Upon A Con series! I loved getting to see old characters from the previous book and how they interacted with the new faces in this novel. I really enjoyed the writing style throughout the book and liked reading from both perspectives.

Was this review helpful?

What I love best about Ashely Poston’s books is that she makes it so easy to fangirl over the characters and plot. Reading Geekerella and The Princess and the Fangirl is like an invitation to be a part of a fandom. They’re essentially love letters to fangirls and fanboys, reminding us that it’s okay to be excited about what you love—whether that’s a video game franchise or an anime series or retro science-fiction TV show.

But The Princess and the Fangirl goes above and beyond welcoming someone to a fandom. It also points out the negative side of fandom: the harsh Internet comments, the unnecessary comparisons, the judgmental inclusiveness, the backlash when something doesn’t happen as the fans originally envisioned. Right now, the Internet is ripe with such hate and negativity, and the way Ashley Poston balances the positive and negative sides of fandom is an inspiring and necessary platform amid the chaos.

The story also highlights the difficulties of an actress in any mainstream role. From sexual assault to impossible standards, The Princess and the Fangirl gives an unfortunate yet honest depiction of what an actress in a lead role may go through on a daily basis. And it also shows that people can change and first impressions aren’t everything.

At its heart, The Princess and the Fangirl is a story about fandom: the good, the bad, and the super ugly. It doesn’t shy away from the hard topics and it doesn’t sugarcoat the experience as only good memories and fun costumes. But it does make you appreciate fandom as it once again seamlessly combines the fangirl experience with the fairy tale plot. Ashley Poston is already working on a third book for “Once Upon a Con” series, (a Beauty and the Beast retelling) and I am ready for more because she doesn’t just write fandom, she knows fandom.

Was this review helpful?

Imogen is a fangirl trying to save her favorite character Princess Amara. Meanwhile Actress Jessica Stone is happy about the idea of her character dying off and has pretty much made it clear. When a case of switched identities happen at a panel of ExcelsiCon Jessica isn't happy about it. But when leaks of the script of Starfield sequel leaks Jessica's career can be on the line if shes blamed. She needs to find the person behind this but with all the panels and shows she'll need a double to take her place. Imogen steps up in helping out and gets to see for a short while into Jessica's world, while Jessica solves the mystery of who is leaking the script.

Love love Loved this book. Almost as much as I liked the book Geekerella. I loved how the author took the basic of Prince and the Pauper and turned it into something amazing with it. This was such a unique take and I loved seeing what the author could do for it. TBH I'm not a fan of prince and pauper which is why it took a bit of time for me to pick this book up, but knowing who wrote this and after loving the previous one I knew I finally had to pick it up. I was not disappointed this book exceeded my expectation. I loved getting to know the characters and seeing how everything turned out in the end. I thought it was interesting seeing how both girls got to see the other side of each other's lives and finding their own HEA. It was a pretty cute book, I enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed Geekarella but The Princess and The Fangirl fell quite flat for me because the two main character voices are just too similar. Of the two, Jess is more developed (and I liked her being unlikeable), but Imogen is just along for the ride and doesn't get much chance to be anything but a rather moody foil for everyone else. I was also caught on the back foot by Jess suddenly being into astronomy and far more geeky than she had any right to be after all that grumping around. It felt more "plot device" than "natural progression of character development". Speaking of, the stolen script really faded into the background and ended up as not much more than a carrier for the various romances. That was a bit disappointing.

I look forward to hearing my teen daughter's review, though, she's dying to read it.

Was this review helpful?

A super cute addition to the Once Upon a Con universe. This retelling of the princess and the pauper had all the fandom references and overall geekiness which made me fall in love with Geekerella. Jess is dealing with the fame that Starfield brought to her when Imogen steps into her place at ExcelsiCon. This hatches an idea in Jess so she can handle script leaks that might be her fault. Imogen takes her place and neither girl is ready for everything that happens in the following days.

Was this review helpful?

I was eager to read The Princess and the Fangirl after being so thoroughly charmed by Geekerella. While it didn’t necessarily end up being as lovable or memorable as its predecessor, this young adult contemporary is not without its charms. I enjoyed returning to the world of ExcelsiCon and the fandom nods, seeing a whole host of familiar faces pop up and the shenanigans that ensued after the identity switch Imogen and Jess initiate; all three of these elements made the reading experience fun for me. It was our two narrators that fell short, however, because it took entirely too long for either one to snag my investment in their situations. I was frustrated by Jess and her terrible attitude, and equally irritated by Imogen’s tendency towards denial, and while those things are addressed later in a believable, sensible way, it didn’t make my initial experiences with both of their perspectives any more tolerable. Additionally, and likely partially for this very reason, I just didn’t love their romantic entanglements the way I had loved the main romance in Geekerella. Still, even with my reservations, I flew through The Princess and the Fangirl and would ultimately deem it a fun read, whether you’re familiar with this world or completely new to it.

Was this review helpful?

In true Piston fashion, the book was a delight. A few moments felt forced and the plot dragged in a significant portion of the middle, but overall, I still enjoyed it. It did what it had to do, and it had a good message with agreeable themes thrown in the mix. The first book in this companion-type series still holds up better than this one, but maybe my expectation were too high, or mayb it just didn’t meet them on its own. But, again, it’s still a worthy read if you enjoyed Geekerella or anything Ashley Piston writes.

Was this review helpful?

A sweet, geeky, pop-culture-ific tale of love and fandoms -- and love of fandoms. I really enjoyed this follow-up to Geekerella. The characters are quirky and lovable, and the setting at a con made it extra special.

Was this review helpful?

Ashley Poston's geekified take on the prince and the pauper was initially unappealing. I had a really hard time connecting with the characters - I didn't like Jessica or Imogen. After I got about halfway through the book, it all came together and the story took off.
The second half of the book was terrific. I enjoyed the madcap adventures and crazy plotting that Imogen and Jessica engaged in. I also liked the LGBTQ representation in the book.
While I won't recommend this book to everyone, I will definitely recommend it to a YA, Con loving audience.

Was this review helpful?

Another romp in the Geekerella world, at ExcelsiCon, this time focusing on Jessica Stone, the actress who played Princess Amara, and the fangirl, Imogen who has started a campaign to #SaveAmara. These two have such a cute journey when they end up getting mistaken for each other, and then end up experiencing the Con unlike ever before. Also, you get plenty of references to all things nerdy & geeky, plus your favorites from Geekerella make a few appearances!

Even though Jessica can be a bit prickly to start, I really sympathized with her. I can’t imagine being a young star during this internet age. I mean I get sad when my bookstagram pics don’t get likes, could you imagine if people blamed you for role in a movie?! Whilst posting mean and negative things all day, every day. But yes, once she was at the party with Harper…I just knew Jess was holding back and needed to experience some normality for once.

This book had me smiling through the entire thing. I didn't want to put it down. Absolutely love this series, I am excited for more and I think it would be so cool if Quirk & Ashley wrote a graphic novel that would be the actual Starfield movie!

I clearly both loved Geekerella and The Princess and the Fangirl, and no matter what level of fangirl you are or consider yourself to be, you are sure to enjoy these books!

Was this review helpful?

While this book is a typical ‘everything will turn out right in the end’ type book it is still super fun & addictive. Hands down the best way to describe it is addictive! The Fandom/Con atmosphere of this book makes my book loving heart happy! I love the hints to real fandoms, Harry Potter especially of course!

“Nice to meet you, Gryffindor.”

There are also other fandoms/movies/TV shows/Games/etc. mentioned like Edward Scissor Hands, Mortal Kombat, etc. But Harry Potter the most which I LOVED!

This book is very fast paced and gripping, I read it so damn quickly and loved every second of it. There is a mystery element to this book which I really enjoyed trying to guess. You’ll be glad to know I did not guess correctly at all! So definitely unpredictable, that or I’m just blind haha.

Of course I loved the first book, Geekerella, so I adored seeing characters from Geekerella make an appearance in this book. While I love Darien & Elle from Geekerella, it was really refreshing that this book was a companion and followed new characters instead of the same ones as Geekerella. It was awesome getting to know characters mentioned in Geekerella in this one as well. There is also a book 3 and I can’t wait to see how it is tied into the first 2 books!

This book is in multi POV following Jess & Imogen. My only negative for this book was the POV. I enjoyed our two main characters, they were 2 very different people. However the POVs read very similar, so at times it was a little hard to follow as you would kinda forget who you were reading from as they felt very similar at the beginning. After a while we kinda got into the swing of it and they felt different. But in the beginning they didn’t have a lot of substance, I guess, to make them feel like different people. That’s my only negative for the book.

Was this review helpful?

The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston is the second book in the Once Upon a Con series, though this can also be considered a stand-alone. Poston also wrote Geekerella. It was published by Quirk Books in the beginning of April. This is a YA contemporary romance retelling of the Prince and the Pauper tale with LGBTQ+ characters.

The Princess and the Fangirl takes place at a con where Jessica Stone, actress playing a princess in a rebooted sci-fi series is just trying to survive the interviews and panels at the con as she is trolled online for her character in the series while also trying to get out of playing the character in a sequel. At the same time, Imogen Lovelace, a fangirl who grew up in cons, is trying to convince the production company to revive Stone's character so she can have a better story arc. The two girls meet when Imogen accidentally takes Jessica's place on a panel and no one notices the switch. When the script for the next movie is leaked, the two girls switch places in an attempt to fix everything-- Jessica to find the one leaking the script so she can keep her job as an actress and Imogen trying to save Jessica's character. Romance and shenanigans ensues as the two learn about themselves in each others shoes.

This book covers a lot of things. Jessica is a young actress who is only well known because of this sci-fi movie that she was hoping would just be a one off. She does not want to only be known as the Princess Amara-- to the point fans only know her by her character name and not her own--but she is also regularly dealing with online trolls, fans hating on her for everything from being to fat, too thin, having a birthmark that "ruins the beauty" of the character. She wants out but also has to stay professional and be concerned about her reputation and image. Actors who play roles with a strong fandom sometimes comment on just how rabid their fans can be, especially female actresses. It is toxic and exhausting and ignores the fact that the characters are fictional and the actors/actresses are human.

Imogen, who sometimes goes by Mo, is a fan of a lot of things. she grew up in cons. She also identifies with Princess Amara because the princess wants to be more than a princess/damsel in distress and she wants to prove her worth to the world. Imogen often describes herself as just being, she compares herself to her brother who knows who he is, is comfortable with himself, and has a good relationship with his boyfriend. What teenage girl doesn't compare herself to others? Fans often latch onto characters because they see something of themselves in those characters. This is where fans get such devotions to their fandoms.

There's some mention of feminism and how females are portrayed and treated in cons and fandoms. There's mention of women and make-up and how it can be superficial or armor, depending on the woman. There's some great scenes between Imogen and her brother, her brother and his boyfriend, and their mothers, Minerva and Kathy. I love how this family interacts with each other and how they are all so devoted to the con. I also like all of the references. There's everything from Harry Potter to Doctor Who to The Road to El Dorado. It's so much fun seeing all of these things together.

Now to my confessions. . . I have not read Geekerella. My understanding is that this book can be read as a stand alone and there are a couple of places where they reference Geekerella, but it doesn't seem to be a necessary read for this book. Now you may have noticed that I use past tense.

I did not finish Princess and the Fangirl. I got a third of the way through and had to stop. I don't know if I was in the wrong reading mood or if I disliked it because it's a contemporary, but I couldn't get into it.

As much as I liked the references to the different fandoms, I disliked how much these references are being thrown around, especially in Imogen's perspective. She covers the series' sci-fi movie, Starfield, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and a few others that I didn't recognize within the first sentence of her first chapter. "Muggle" is used as an insult. It was a lot and it got on my nerves. I love the fandoms I'm in but this felt dialed up to a thousand. Do people really talk like this? Am I a real fangirl if I don't? Either way, it was too much for me and got on my nerves.

I also really disliked both of the main characters. Imogen is bordering on rabid fan. She is very self-deprecating and doesn't think she's worth anything-- which I get is a common thing in the teen years and in YA books but it irks me-- which is interesting considering how everyone talks about how passionate she is about her views and life. It didn't seem to fit. She also doesn't seem capable of seeing anything from anyone else's perspective. And she goes on and on about all the hot guys she sees at the cons, including the guy who ghosted her at a con dance a year ago-- a guy she calls He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named-- and yet still knows she'll meet him after this con because she's "hormonal." She also insults someone by calling them a nerfherder because "Muggle is too good for you." I could not stand her.

On a similar note, I didn't like Jessica at all. I get she is annoyed and stressed with the con and looking for a way out of playing Princess Amara, but she is rude and controlling with little consideration for Imogen and her situation. When she suggests the two girls switch places, it's Jessica who lists off all of her "rules" about playing her, expecting Imogen to do her bidding, while Jessica doesn't want to do anything for Imogen. Again, I get she has to find the person leaking the script, but to suggest someone live your life and then refuse to do the responsibilities that that person has to do is just annoying. I also disliked how she wasn't getting help from the people around her when it came to the online trolls. I know there's not much anyone can really do, but she's spending three hours every day going through her social media feeds deleting and reporting everything that is sent to her and still doesn't tell anyone she's receiving everything from hate-filled comments to inappropriate images to a few threats. She came across as self-absorbed and irresponsible, especially since it's her fault the script is being leaked.

I don't usually read contemporary so that my be my problem but since this is a retelling, I was really hoping I could dive right in and get comfortable with this genre since retellings are things I usually enjoy. As I said, I got a third of the way through. I loved the side characters and the different references, the interactions between the families and friends and how Poston touches on some real issues in the con and fandom communities. But I could not stand the two main characters. If one of them was even remotely more than extremes of caricatures-- and I'm sure they'd even out as the story progressed and become more human-- then I might have stuck it out longer. As it stands, I don't see myself picking this book up any time soon and I'm no longer really interested in reading Geekerella. This book is just not for me.

If contemporary romance retellings are your thing, I do suggest picking up this book. The side characters are great and the meta aspects are good and the few romantic relationships I did see are cute and healthy (as far as I could tell). I just couldn't make it past the two main characters.

I won't give this book a rating, partly because I didn't finish it and partly because I feel like I don't have the knowledge to really make a good judgement call on a contemporary romance. Maybe I'll come back to it in the future but not right now.

Was this review helpful?

The Princess and the Fangirl was another wonderful read by Ashley Poston. I love the characters in this series and only wish we could have seen even more of the relationship building between the characters. A story about finding yourself despite others expectations of who you are or who you should become. Hoping for more in this series.

Was this review helpful?

The perfect follow up to GEEKERELLA! I loved the first book so much and I couldn't have asked for a better companion novel. The same charming, geeky feel as the first book full of sweet moments. My heart was bursting the whole way through. I'm so happy to have read this and would 100% read again. Great voice, great writing, great plot. Can't recommend enough!

Was this review helpful?

Okay so I'm supposed to say here that I got this book from NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest unbiased review BUT- I also want you to know as soon as I finished this I went ahead and purchased my own copy so yeah...you can trust me here.
I feel like this book knew how to connect with me. It had a little bit of everything. There were several moments that made me laugh out loud, plenty of moments that made me sigh with love, and then really inspirational moments that I didn't see coming when I started this book.
Overall, I would recommend this book! To anyone that's ever loved a fandom of any kind, I bet it's in here(Doctor Who, Pokemon, Mortal Kombat, Buffy, Firefly, Harry Potter, Sailor Moon, and too many more to name are all mentioned several times throughout the book). To anyone that's ever gone or wanted to go to a convention, you'll love how this book takes you there.
This book is just a perfect little nerd book for my little nerd heart to love.
I also read Geekerella and honestly, I think I love this one more. It felt a little rushed and if I'm honest, I wish it would have been a bit longer to really get into this but this book was just so cute!

Was this review helpful?