Queens of Geek

Charlie and Taylor are best friends traveling from Australia to SupaCon in California, accompanied by their friend Jamie. Charlie, a rising YouTube star, aims to promote her first feature film while navigating the convention scene and her public image. Taylor, who is autistic and experiences anxiety, hopes to meet her favorite author at the convention while pushing herself outside her comfort zone. The story alternates between Charlie and Taylor's perspectives as they each pursue their goals at the convention. The convention becomes a backdrop for both characters to confront their fears, explore new relationships, and discover more about themselves. Their friendship serves as an anchor while they deal with fame, fandom culture, and personal growth over the three-day event. Queens of Geek examines themes of identity, neurodiversity, and self-acceptance within fan culture and social media. The story speaks to the power of supportive friendships and finding one's community while navigating young adulthood.

Reader reviews highlight the authentic representation of anxiety, autism, and bisexuality through the characters of Charlie and Taylor. Many readers connect with how the book portrays fandom culture, social media influence, and convention experiences. Readers appreciated: - Natural inclusion of diverse characters without making diversity the main focus - Realistic portrayal of panic attacks and social anxiety - Positive fat representation - Fast-paced convention setting - Strong friendship dynamics Common criticisms: - Plot feels predictable - Romance develops too quickly - Writing style can be simplistic - Some dialogue comes across as unrealistic - Character development feels rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (15,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (250+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (40+ ratings) One reader noted: "Finally a book that shows what anxiety actually feels like rather than just telling us a character is anxious." Another stated: "The convention setting was fun but the relationships felt forced and moved too fast."

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🎬 Author Jen Wilde drew from her own experiences with autism and anxiety while writing the character of Taylor, making the representation particularly authentic and personal. 🌈 The book features three main characters who each represent different aspects of diversity: Charlie is Chinese-Australian and bisexual, Taylor is on the autism spectrum, and Jamie is Latino. 🎯 The fictional SupaCon featured in the book was inspired by real conventions like VidCon and Comic-Con, with Wilde conducting extensive research at actual conventions to capture the atmosphere accurately. 📱 The story incorporates modern social media elements and YouTube culture, reflecting the author's own engagement with online communities and contemporary fan culture. 💫 Queens of Geek was praised by LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD and was featured on their list of Outstanding Kids & Family Programming recommendations.