…Dade delivers and then some. This book frolics through fields of fannish allusion and metatext… It takes a skillful writer to juggle so many elements, yet the emotional through-line shines clear and strong at every point.” — New York Times Book Review
“Spoiler Alert is a delight. April and Marcus will melt your heart.” — USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday
"Spoiler Alert is a gentle, funny, and sexy romance that captivated me from the first page and kept me enthralled to the very (happy) end. I adored these characters and every moment of their journey to love. Olivia Dade has crafted an unforgettable story, one that’s earned an immediate spot on my comfort-reads shelf." — Mia Sosa, USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man
"It’s a path of self-discovery, healing and growth, punctuated by scorching chemistry, whip-smart dialogue and sidesplitting humor.” — Washington Post
"[A] clever, creative story...Dade handles both the fun and toxic dynamics of fandom and social media with insight and compassion. Given equal weight are Marcus and April’s difficult family histories, as both work through the damage inflicted by parents who judged them to be “flawed.” The result is nuanced, unflinching, and deeply romantic. Dade’s fans and new readers alike will fall in love." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"With considerable empathy and a generous helping of snarky wit, Dade invites readers into the fascinating world of fan fiction while at the same time deftly addressing some serious topics—body image issues and dyslexia—within the context of a scorchingly sexy contemporary romance... a force to reckon with in the romance genre." — Booklist (starred review)
"Even those new to online fanfiction will find this a charming and engrossing read. Issues of body positivity, dyslexia, and found families are among the topics addressed with sensitivity and realism. The between-chapter segments of fanfic server chats, fanfic synopsis, and truly horrible screenplays add to the fun." — Library Journal (starred review)
"Indie publishing favorite Olivia Dade’s Avon debut, Spoiler Alert, is a funny and poignant triumph that defies expectation... Dade has gifted readers with a thoughtful, swoonworthy and emotionally satisfying contemporary romance that has the added benefit of a realistic, multilayered and relatable portrayal of the digital world. If you’re into fan culture and practices, it will be an even greater pleasure. Loyal Olivia Dade fans and new readers alike will love it." — BookPage (starred review)
"I was engrossed from page one of Spoiler Alert until the very happy, sigh-worthy ending. Olivia Dade is consistently one of my favorite authors. Her writing is warm and witty, frequently funny and often achingly poignant." — Lucy Parker, author of Act Like It
"As funny as it is sexy (and boy is it sexy), Spoiler Alert is a love letter to fandom in all its many forms, and was an absolute joy from the first page to the last. Reading it felt like a hug to the heart from someone who wants you to know that you are perfect and deserve to be loved exactly as you are." — Jen DeLuca, author of Well Met
"Olivia Dade perfectly captures fandom, love, and acceptance in this incredible, delightful novel. I loved every page!” — Jessie Mihalik, author of Polaris Rising
“The journey to self-acceptance is never easy, and Dade doesn’t shy away from that, but she makes it just as beautiful and gentle as the love that blooms between Marcus and April…Geek out with this romantic homage to fan culture.” — Kirkus Reviews
"Dade's book is a sparkling jolt of fangirling, body-positive swoons...." — Entertainment Weekly
"Sweet, steamy, and every fanfic writer’s dream. This romance is such a fun take on a fan/celebrity relationship with all sorts of body positivity." — Book Riot
"This romantic comedy is about love, secrets and stardom — and is sure to sweep you off your feet." — CNN.com
Spoiler Alert is a delight. April and Marcus will melt your heart.
USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday
"With considerable empathy and a generous helping of snarky wit, Dade invites readers into the fascinating world of fan fiction while at the same time deftly addressing some serious topics—body image issues and dyslexia—within the context of a scorchingly sexy contemporary romance... a force to reckon with in the romance genre."
Booklist (starred review)
"I was engrossed from page one of Spoiler Alert until the very happy, sigh-worthy ending. Olivia Dade is consistently one of my favorite authors. Her writing is warm and witty, frequently funny and often achingly poignant."
…Dade delivers and then some. This book frolics through fields of fannish allusion and metatext… It takes a skillful writer to juggle so many elements, yet the emotional through-line shines clear and strong at every point.
New York Times Book Review
"As funny as it is sexy (and boy is it sexy), Spoiler Alert is a love letter to fandom in all its many forms, and was an absolute joy from the first page to the last. Reading it felt like a hug to the heart from someone who wants you to know that you are perfect and deserve to be loved exactly as you are."
"It’s a path of self-discovery, healing and growth, punctuated by scorching chemistry, whip-smart dialogue and sidesplitting humor.
"Indie publishing favorite Olivia Dade’s Avon debut, Spoiler Alert, is a funny and poignant triumph that defies expectation... Dade has gifted readers with a thoughtful, swoonworthy and emotionally satisfying contemporary romance that has the added benefit of a realistic, multilayered and relatable portrayal of the digital world. If you’re into fan culture and practices, it will be an even greater pleasure. Loyal Olivia Dade fans and new readers alike will love it."
BookPage (starred review)
"Spoiler Alert is a gentle, funny, and sexy romance that captivated me from the first page and kept me enthralled to the very (happy) end. I adored these characters and every moment of their journey to love. Olivia Dade has crafted an unforgettable story, one that’s earned an immediate spot on my comfort-reads shelf."
"It’s a path of self-discovery, healing and growth, punctuated by scorching chemistry, whip-smart dialogue and sidesplitting humor.
"Sweet, steamy, and every fanfic writer’s dream. This romance is such a fun take on a fan/celebrity relationship with all sorts of body positivity."
"This romantic comedy is about love, secrets and stardom — and is sure to sweep you off your feet."
"Dade's book is a sparkling jolt of fangirling, body-positive swoons...."
"Olivia Dade perfectly captures fandom, love, and acceptance in this incredible, delightful novel. I loved every page!
Spoiler Alert is a delight. April and Marcus will melt your heart.
null USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday
★ 10/01/2020
This latest from Dade ("There's Something About Marysburg" series) delves into the world of fandom, in which superfans attempt to wield the weapon of fanfiction to right the wrongs perpetuated in a universe that has jumped from book series to TV show. Geologist and cosplayer April (aka Unapologetic Lavinia Stan), and actor and secret fanfiction author Marcus (aka Book!AeneasWouldNever), are good friends in the online community dedicated to shaping the wildly popular internet couple Aeneas and Lavinia. What no one in the fandom realizes—since it could cost him his job—is that Marcus is Aeneas. Or at least, he plays him on TV. When April's latest plus-size Lavinia costume goes viral, Marcus asks her out to dinner to quiet the internet trolls but soon figures out their virtual connection. He can't admit who he is online, but that's not the only thing he's hiding, and April is immediately suspicious that the Marcus the world sees is nothing like the real man. Can a relationship begun online survive in real life? VERDICT Even those new to online fanfiction will find this a charming and engrossing read. Issues of body positivity, dyslexia, and found families are among the topics addressed with sensitivity and realism. The between-chapter segments of fanfic server chats, fanfic synopsis, and truly horrible screenplays add to the fun.—Rebecca Moe, Alden Ewell Free Lib., NY
2020-07-29
Actor Marcus Caster-Rupp has shot his final scene as Aeneas in the TV series Gods of the Gates . Though the set has been home to him for seven years, he hasn't been particularly pleased with the direction the showrunners have taken his character. To work out his frustrations, he's secretly been writing fan fiction about his own character, giving Aeneas the storyline he deserves. The fanfic writing community has been a boon to him, leading him to “meet” one of his closest friends, Unapologetic Lavinia Stan, also known as Ulsie. Ulsie is really April Whittier, geologist and secret nerd determined to remain secret no longer. For too long, she’s hidden her love of Gods of the Gates and is now determined to be outgoing about her fanfic writing and cosplay projects. April starts by tweeting a picture of herself wearing a costume of Lavinia, a Gods of the Gates character and Aeneas' love interest. Fat-shaming trolls quickly make the picture go viral until Marcus himself sees it. His solution: invite April out for dinner as way to stick it to the toxic fan base. Will their in-person meeting reflect the anonymous connection they have online? Readers (and viewers) of Game of Thrones will undoubtedly catch the parallels, giving a healthy dose of fan service with a quasi fix-it feel. Both Marcus and April struggle with other people's perceptions of them: Marcus knows everyone views him as vapid while April is often first judged on her weight. While this is a sweet romance that unfolds partially through tweets and direct messages and fanfic storytelling, it’s also about the way the main characters learn to love themselves. The journey to self-acceptance is never easy, and Dade doesn’t shy away from that, but she makes it just as beautiful and gentle as the love that blooms between Marcus and April. One note is that the book is fandom heavy. If you’re entrenched in the community, you will feel right at home. If not, there’s a terminology learning curve.
Geek out with this romantic homage to fan culture.
