Ok, a retelling of the Prince and the Pauper? YES FREAKING PLEASE. I loved this. I sometimes struggle with YA, but Ashley Poston didn't miss on this one! Likable characters who just need some guidance or life changes:)

Just the cutest freaking thing! I also loved how I was initially wrong about the couples in this!

It has been a while since I read and loved book one, but oh it was so easy to slip back into this fun world of fangirling and conventions.

I just love this series so much! It brings back a lot of nostalgia from my Stargate loving/con going days. Not as amazing as book one, but still a fun read.

such a pleasant surprise!!! a whole lot of fun with a whole lot of good commentary on women in fandom and the criticism they take :((

As with the other Ashley Poston books, this retelling merged with nerd culture is the best of both worlds.
I love how Ms Poston develops her characters and the stories so that they are sympathetic and believable.
Although the culprit was pretty obvious, I liked how the book delved into the darker sides of fandom and geek culture and how some obsessive fans can ruin it for everyone else.
Truly recommend for any nerd- geek out over the pop culture references.

Ashley Poston knows how to write fandoms and cons. Between this book and Gerekerella, she has really given me all the cute fandom feelings in the best way!

I got through this book so quickly. As a big cosplayer who attends conventions and is into nerd culture, this book called out to me immediately.

I have actually read Geekeralla but when I requested this book I didn't put two and two together, so it was nice seeing the call outs and familiarities, however you definitely don't need to have read Geekerella to be able to read The Princess and the Fangirl.

Ashley has done another really fun retelling of a classic fairytale, giving it a modern day (and slightly nerdy) twist. As I said in my intro, this book is a very easy and compelling read, with enjoyable characters and really fun dialogue.

My only criticism is that the romance felt a bit shallow / insta-love, but I love the fact that it's a sapphic romance in a YA book which outweighs it for me.

I probably won't be picking up the next book in the series, but that is because it's been a few years since I requested this and my reading style has changed, however I would definitely pick this up for my teenage cousins as it has great representation and is lots of fun.

I loved Geekerella so much when I read it back in 2018. I'm not sure if I've outgrown fandom books, or if this one just missed the mark for me, but I didn't enjoy it as much. Still will probably read the next one because I do appreciate this author's writing style.

While I did end up liking this one, I didn't love it as much as I loved Geekerella. I really loved that the entire book took place over a weekend at the Con. I was really looking forward to this one because we would be getting more insight into Jess's story, and it didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed the journey she went on in this book, and the character development that she went through. I also liked the introduction of Imogen, and how she was so different from Jess but also so similar as well. The side characters in this story were so great. I did enjoy the romances in this one, just not nearly as much as the first book. I think this one was a little too fast-paced in my opinion, but I suppose as Jess says in the book, "when you know, you know".

I'm definitely really enjoying this series! They are really fun, easy reads which is a nice change of pace when you need it. I can't wait to read the next one in the series!!

Geekerella was fantastic and this is just as good. If you feel like cute and fun then this is for you. The romance is smilesplitting cute and how doesn't love an enemies to lovers plot.

I was given a copy of this book as a blogger for Quirk Books. I ordinarily wouldn't give feedback on a book that I've been asked to read for work.

Oh, what an absolute JOY this was, and a wonderful companion to Poston's GEEKERELLA. THE PRINCESS AND THE FANGIRL is the perfect summer read that will no doubt make you laugh. I loved how immersive this contemporary world is, and how relatable the characters are! I also appreciate how clear it is that Poston loves fandom and lets that love seep through every sentence she writes—especially when this is an area many can be all too condescending of.

Ashley Poston is simply incredible! Her characters always feel so real and the world building in her contemporaries are so impressively deep. You can tell she is also a fangirl, as none of her comments on fandom or personal fan passion feel condescending or untrue. The Once Upon A Con series is the perfect fit for any fan of fandom.

If there is anything about fandoms/comic con/geeky stuff in general, then I’m here for it. Always. I always feel like I’m reading about my own group of friends, and in a world that I can relate to. Plus, it makes me happy, and what more could you want when it comes to a summery, YA novel?

Imogen Lovelace is an ordinary fangirl on an impossible mission: save her favourite character, Princess Amara, from being killed off from her favourite franchise, Starfield. The problem is, Jessica Stone—the actress who plays Princess Amara—wants nothing more than to leave the intense scrutiny of the fandom behind. If this year’s ExcelsiCon isn’t her last, she’ll consider her career derailed.

When a case of mistaken identity throws look-a-likes Imogen and Jess together, they quickly become enemies. But when the script for the Starfield sequel leaks and all signs point to Jess, she and Imogen must trade places to find the person responsible. That’s easier said than done when the girls step into each other’s shoes and discover new romantic possibilities, as well as the other side of intense fandom. As these “princesses” race to find the script-leaker, they must rescue themselves from their own expectations, and redefine what it means to live happily ever after.

Now, I absolutely loved Ashley Poston’s previous book, Geekerella for the same reasons as I mentioned before. I love the whole world of Cons, how hundreds and hundreds of people from everywhere come together to enjoy the same thing. One of the things that I enjoy about this series is that the books are light and fluffy, which makes them easy reads that are perfect for rainy days, or lounging by the pool.

The Princess and the Fangirl is a gender-swapped retelling of The Princess and the Pauper which is a story that I love anyway (does anybody remember the Barbie version? That was amazing!) Another thing that made my day when I was reading this was that there are some characters that you will recognise from Geekerella. They are in no way the main characters in this book, they are mere passers-by, but the nod that Poston gives to her other book put a smile on my face.



“I am a kaleidoscope of hope and dreams and wonder in the shape of a girl. I am not a porcelain doll. I am not empty. I am worthy of. I am enough.”
– Ashley Poston, The Princess and the Fangirl


I always wonder how people can swap places for a day… It really baffles me how no one seemed to notice that Imogen was in Jess’ place, and Jess was in Imogen’s… Like… I know some people just have those ordinary faces where they’re just not… much? It sounds so bad!! But, how could anyone not bloody realise? Confused. So confused.

What I liked about The Princess and the Fangirl was that it showed the opposite side to fandoms: the side that people don’t want to admit that exists. And that is the hateful, competitive, keyboard warrior side that hurts A LOT of people, which hates change, and anything that goes against their idea of what is canon. I think that this quote from the book sums this up perfectly:



“There are dark sides to every fandom. The pockets filled with a certain kind of nostalgia where everything is sacred and shouldn’t be tampered with. Where new things are always trash, or judged too harshly, or not up to some unknown holy standard. Where new people with new ideas can’t touch an old sinking ship even if it’ll repair it—make it better than before.”
– Ashley Poston, The Princess and the Fangirl


This book – even if it did show the negative side to fandoms – was still a cute read that featured an f/f romance (which is what we like to see!) There was a diverse cast, sarcasm, witty dialogue, and characters that you can’t help but fall in love with.

Even though I preferred Geekerella to its companion novel, I definitely enjoyed The Princess and the Fangirl and will 100% be picking up the next book in the series!

Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Another very cute read and romance in this universe. Love the diversity of the cast and well rounded characters. Excited for book 3

"There are stories that you tell and stories that tell things to you; stories that win awards and stories that win hearts. Sometimes they're the same. Sometimes they aren't. Sometimes the stories you want aren't the ones you need, and the ones you need are the ones you never thought you'd like."

The Princess and the Fangirl is a sweet, and very enjoyable read - much like Geekerella. If you're acquainted with fandom dynamics, then you'll probably laugh a lot while reading this. However, The Princess and the Fangirl also touches on more delicate subjects - snobbery, inclusivity, self confidence… I really enjoyed this read, and highly recommend reading it if you liked Geekerella too !

Fans of Geekerella or Queens of Geek will adore this bantery, nerdtastic sequel to the former. The m/f ship steals the show, while the f/f ship is cute but rushed. Good fun.

This is a LGBTQ modern twist on The Prince and the Pauper. The second book in the Once Upon a Con Series follows Imogen Lovelace who wants to save her favorite character, Princess Amara in her favorite show Starfield which we saw in the first book in this series. The actor who plays Princess Amara Jess Stone could care less if her character dies or not. A mistaken identity between Imogen and Jess happens which causes them to be enemies. Jess accidently throws away her script for the upcoming season on starfield and gets leaked online. It is now a mission to find out who took it and who leaked it online. Jess and Imogen come together and switch identities to find out the truth. As they try to find out more information they begin to find out more information about themselves and there friendship develops. This is a cute modern retelling. If you enjoyed the first book in the series read this next!

Fun and quirky in a way that keeps the story inviting but reads with a fresh feeling. Love the revisiting of familiar tropes with the awareness and knowledge of their incarnations.

Jess Stone does not want to play Amara ever again. In The Princes and the Fangirl, Jess is stuck at ExcelsiCon, the convention for Starfield fans, when she literally runs into Imogen Lovelace, a Starfield superfan who bears a striking resemblance to Jess. I really enjoyed this sequel to Geekerella, a fun Prince and the Pauper adaptation. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!