Queens of Geek

Queens of Geek, by Jen Wilde Blurb: Three friends, two love stories, one convention: this fun, feminist love letter to geek culture is all about fandom, friendship, and finding the courage to be yourself. Charlie likes to stand out. She’s a vlogger and actress promoting her first movie at SupaCon, and this is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star Reese Ryan. When internet-famous cool-girl actress Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie’s long-time crush on her isn’t as one-sided as she thought. Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And there’s one thing in her life she knows will never change: her friendship with her best guy friend Jamie—no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about a fan contest for her favorite fandom, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe.My ReviewOriginally, I brought this book book because of the awesome cover; it's so bright, I love it! As it turned out, it was also a really good read and I managed to read it almost in one sitting.The characters were engaging and I loved how much representation there was in this story; we had bi characters, a character who was on the autistic spectrum and several different characters of colour. It was also sex positive, which I loved because, really as long as it's safe and consensual, what right have others to judge? I also loved the strength in both of the main characters and how they developed - Charlie learned to be herself and not let others opinions effect her and Taylor realised how brave she really was and also that she didn't need to change herself.Also, the setting was so fun! I've never been to any kind of convention, but after reading this I really want to! I loved that this book celebrated geekiness and fandoms and basically being who you are.I really only have two gripes. One, I wish Jaime had some chapters. Two, I felt like Charlie and Alyssa's relationship was too rushed. I'm not talking about the sex, I'm talking about asking someone you've only known for two days to make a huge life decision and get over their past, which isn't even really in the past yet... "If you still can't separate your history with him from a future with me, then maybe you're not ready for this." At this point they'd only been on one date, or two if you count the dinner... It just seemed very prematureStill, a really good, enjoyable book, that I thought was great fun! My favourite quotes from Queens of Geek:'Sometimes it feels like I'm allergic to the world, like I'm allergic to my own species. Being here, it's an assault on my senses.''History and experience have proven to me that it's very hard for people to understand, and all too easy for them to judge.' 'Just because it's happened before doesn't make it okay.' 'You can't pick and choose whose equality you support. That's not equality.' 'When making friends is the hardest thing in the world for you, you don't risk it all by telling one of them you're in love with him.' 'The hardest part was;t leaving her behind; it was feeling like I'd left pieces of myself behind.' 'It pisses me off that the world thinks my body is my most important quality.' 'If there can be someone like you in the world, then it can't be such a bad place after all.' 'I've spent all SupaCon trying to show others that he didn't break me, but that still makes everything about him, doesn't it?'