If there had been a couple of books between I Was Born for This and The Princess and the Fangirl, I probably would’ve noticed these similarities-glaring as they are-only in passing. Of course, both novels throw their two protagonists together eventually and in both, the meeting is precipitated by a malicious act and minor disaster.

Even though Angel and Imogen have been looking forward to meeting their friend for a long time, the IRL reunion goes poorly.

They are both attending a fan event, both for the event itself and to meet a long-time Internet friend they do not yet know face-to-face. They both love their chosen fandom with all their heart, and use it to fill the hole caused by their dissatisfaction with their own lives. As long as we’re pointing out similarities, I may as well mention that both Jessica and Jimmy are LGBTQ+. Even though they started out on the road to fame passionate about their art, the stress and the responsibilities of fame have them at their wit’s end, to the point that they desperately want out. Both novels alternate perspectives between their two protagonists.īoth Jessica and Jimmy are miserable. In I Was Born for This, Angel adores the boyband The Ark, and the frontman Jimmy in particular. The Princess and the Fangirl has Jessica and Imogen, the star of a huge sci-fi reboot called Starfield and a huge Starfield fangirl, respectively. How are The Princess and the Fangirl and I Was Born for This similar?īoth novels follow two protagonists, one who is mega famous and the other who is a big fan. I certainly still enjoyed it, but it was too close on the heels of a book that did all the same things, but better. If I’d read it at a different time, I might’ve concluded this review by saying “I loved it!” Unfortunately, I didn’t read it at a different time, so it disappointed me a bit. The Princess and the Fangirl is a cute, quick read. Unfortunately for The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston, I had just finished I Was Born for Thisby Alice Oseman when I read it. Repetition only becomes a problem when I read something spectacular and then follow it up with something similar enough that it forces comparisons while being notably lackluster.

I like what I like, so I intentionally stick to what I know I’ll enjoy most of the time. If anything, I should be surprised when the books I read are noticeably dissimilar. I have definite reading trends, so it’s not exactly world-shattering when I read a handful of books in a row that have similar plots or themes. Can whoever does Ashley Poston’s covers be in charge of all covers? Thanks.

Fangirl book review