Queens of Geek - Jen Wilde

When BFFs Charlie, Taylor and Jamie go to SupaCon, they know it’s going to be a blast. What they don’t expect is for it to change their lives forever. Charlie likes to stand out. SupaCon is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star, Reese Ryan. When Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie’s long-time crush on her isn’t as one-sided as she thought. While Charlie dodges questions about her personal life, Taylor starts asking questions about her own.

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 Jamie—no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about the Queen Firestone SupaFan Contest, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe.

This book was super fun and really cute, but with depth and complexity to round out the talk of romance and crushes. Told in alternating POV style between Charlie and Taylor, the novel follows the three friends as they navigate SupaCon and the ensuing drama. Charlie's ex, Reese, is a monumental asshole, and he's doing his best to ruin Charlie's time at the Con. Taylor is also having a tougher time than she expected. Her favourite author is there, but she misses out on getting her autograph, and then her anxiety starts to kick up, at least until she meets a new friend who she can confide in. There's a lot of drama, but it never feels too over-the-top.

As I noted before, the novel has a lot of depth to it. Wilde discusses fat-shaming, body positivity, sexuality and sexual fluidity, autism, and many other components. One of the things I love is that Taylor does not "overcome" her anxiety or the fact that she is on the autism spectrum. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is important that people who are autistic are not seen as people with a "problem" to "overcome," as that assumes there is a normal neurology that people should have. It's refreshing to see this in Wilde's novel, and I hope to see it dealt with more positively in other future works of YA as well.

There is a lot to love about Queens of Geek, from the SupaCon fandom to the relationships that are developed over the course of the book, to the sweet romantic moments between various characters. Fans of cosplay, fandom culture, and queer romance. 

Highly Recommended

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