Marcus Caster-Rupp has a secret: while the world knows him as Aeneas, the star of the biggest show on TV, he's known to fanfiction readers as an anonymous and popular poster. April Whittier has secrets of her own. A hardcore Lavinia fan, she's hidden her fanfiction and cosplay hobby from her "real life" for years, but not anymore. When she decides to post her latest Lavinia creation on Twitter, Marcus, one half of her OTP, sees her pic and asks her out.
The journey these two characters take to get there — both individually and separately — is where the magic happens: It’s a path of self-discovery, healing and growth, punctuated by scorching chemistry, whip-smart dialogue and sidesplitting humor.
You want a book that’s funny? A book that will make you cry because it’s so relatable? A book that will make you swoon, fan your face during saucy scenes, and then some? And above all, a book that is a love letter to fandoms and fanfiction and to being a nerd? Well, look no further, my friends, because Spoiler Alert has got it all ...There’s so much to love about this book but my favourite part was how this was equally a romantic comedy giving you all the second-hand embarrassment and fluff while also addressing real social issues. Marcus and April have sizzling chemistry and their banter is as funny as their flirting is enticing. But the both of them struggle with bigger issues ... the illuminating commentary Dade offers on the fatphobic society we live in was compulsive to read about. Dade does not hold back ... There is no condescension between these pages; instead, we are regaled with a fierce protagonist who is smart, quick-witted, gorgeous and fat. Not in spite of being fat. Not because she’s fat. It’s just another adjective describing the brilliant woman that is April Whittier. It’s a powerful message, showing that yes, fat women are desired, they are loved, they are worthy of getting their happily ever after. It’s not the size of your body but the size of your heart that matters. This representation will mean so much to so many people (I know it did a lot to me) and I hope that everyone falls head over heels in love with April, just like Marcus does ... With flawed, complex characters that leap straight off the page and into your heart, Spoiler Alert is a love letter to fiction, fandom and fatness. As much social commentary as romantic comedy, this one deserves a spot on your favourites shelf!
I’ve never met a book that brought as wonderful a feeling of catharsis as Spoiler Alert. I’ve never felt more seen than I did reading April’s story ... It’s really hard to express just how much I love Spoiler Alert ... While I found it really easy to slip into April shoes in the story, it was harder for me to understand Marcus’ point-of-view. He was just as uncomfortable with his choices as I was, but he had a hell of a lot to lose, and that fear is something I could definitely related to. Once I felt that bond with Marcus, I was even more engaged than I ever imagined I could be ... This was my first Olivia Dade story, and I was drawn in by the fandom of it all, but I know for certain that it will not be my last. I am beyond eager to dive into her back catalog and see all the interesting and varied lives that her other characters live ... No review of Spoiler Alert would be complete without acknowledging how accurate and empowering the depiction of fandom is throughout the story ... an absolutely fantastic romance. It’s a story I loved from start to finish, even when I found myself a little uncomfortable with Marcus’ choices. No one is perfect, and I hardly expect the heroes and heroines I read to be that way either. And what kind of romance would it be if I, the reader, weren’t begging the characters to talk to each other more, to admit their weaknesses and hidden truths, to bare their souls to each other? ... I may not have known who Olivia Dade was before Spoiler Alert entered my life, but I know I will never forget her name now that it is.
