Zoe Rosenthal is smart, studious, and sophisticated, and there’s nothing she can’t solve with her well-curated to-do lists and colour-coordinated spreadsheets. She’s got her life figured out, and together with her smart, ambitious boyfriend Simon, nothing will mess with their plans for the future. That is, until Zoe falls in love with an underrated TV show called Bleeders and suddenly finds herself lying to her boyfriend and her parents so she can secretly attend a con where the premiere of Bleeders will be pre-shown, which would be totally fine if it wasn’t completely at odds with Zoe’s usual demeanour.
It’s fine, though. She’s fine. Besides, she’ll be back home before her parents or her straight-laced boyfriend even finds out she left. Little does she know that the trip to the con ends up being nothing short of life-changing. Encountering new friends who love the show as much as she does, Zoe suddenly finds herself thrust into the fandom of fellow fans, desperate to make sure that the undervalued show gets a third season. More and more, Zoe’s fandom life takes over her real one. And when push comes to shove, Zoe has to decide her future: will she go along with what she thinks she needs or what she truly wants?
If you’ve ever been part of a fandom, odds are you’ve been in Zoe’s shoes at least once in your life. Which was exactly what made Zoe and her friends’ plight so incredibly relatable. We all have that one series—ahem, or five—that we would give anything to have another season of. And what better way to save a show than to make sure everyone else will watch it and fall in love with it just the same? Which is exactly what Zoe and her friends end up doing—going to cons, getting the word out about Bleeders, making more people join the fandom—and making some epic memories in the process.
I loved how this story focused on the power of the audience. In this day and age, we are so consumed by and immersed in fandom culture that sometimes we forget that the reason shows are given more seasons is because of the people who watch it. Cancellations often feel like a personal vendetta and it leaves true devotees of shows feeling powerless. And that’s where fandom steps in and takes over. From fanfiction to merch to social media campaigns, fans are the ones who make a show either a big hit or a huge fail. And just like in every fandom, that sometimes means that people will be kind to each other or bite each other’s heads off—just like Zoe and her friends do. But in the end, it all boils down to coming together for something you believe in, which is the true power of fan culture, and that was explored beautifully here.
Another highlight was the way the nine alignments came into play. From the title of the book alone, we learn that Zoe is not lawful good, but there are still eight other alignments that are devilishly entertaining, if I may be so frank. I loved how Zoe and her group of friends discussed alignments and how this was the perfect segue into discussing Zoe’s understanding of her needs and wants in life. While Zoe’s boyfriend Simon seems to be perfect on paper— his looks, his career ambitions, his sophistication—Zoe eventually learns that just because it makes sense theoretically for two people to be together, doesn’t always mean that they should be together. Werlin makes an effort to show this discrepancy and lets Zoe come to the revelation in her own time, not just when everybody tells her that she might be better off with someone who will appreciate her passion for things that don’t have to end up on your resume or college application. It rang so true of what it feels like to be a teenager, this being torn between what you want your future to look like and what you think it’s supposed to be.
Lastly, Zoe’s group of friends. I think that anyone who’s ever met a friend through a fandom—whether that’s gushing to someone on bookstagram about a shared favourite character or giving kudos to a particularly well-written piece of fanfiction—will appreciate how the people Zoe meets because of the show Bleeders become friends for life. It’s a peculiar bond to find a friend based on something you both enjoy and would do anything to keep having more content of and it made Zoe’s relationship with Sebastian and Liv and many more so much more special. I also really loved the diversity in this book—from nonbinary characters and ones who are on the autism spectrum to the introductions that always include your pronouns, it was a breath of fresh air to read about this eclectic, awesome friends group.
All in all, whether you miss going to Cons, want to fangirl over a show or just need a breather from reality (don’t we all), this is the fast-paced, character-driven story for you.
With a relatable protagonist, a quirky friend group and a generous heaping of nerdy Easter eggs, Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good is an expertly weaved coming-of-age story that emphasizes the indomitable power of fandom and friendship.
Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of April 6th 2021.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A buttoned-up overachiever works overtime to keep her inner nerd at bay—failing spectacularly—in Nancy Werlin’s hilarious and heartfelt return to contemporary realistic fiction.
Planning is Zoe Rosenthal’s superpower. She has faith in a properly organized to-do list and avoids unnecessary risks. Her mental checklist goes something like this: 1) Meet soulmate: DONE! 2) Make commitment: DONE! 3) Marriage: TO COME! (after college). She isn’t sure which college yet, but it will have a strong political science department, since her perfect boyfriend, Simon, plans to “save the country,” as his sister puts it, “and the planet and everything.” Zoe will follow along, the perfect serious, supportive girlfriend. It’s good to have her love life resolved, checked off, done. But speaking of unnecessary risks, Zoe’s on a plane to Atlanta, sneaking off to Dragon Con for the second season premiere of Bleeders. The show is subject to her boyfriend’s lofty scorn, but Zoe is nothing like these colorful hordes “wearing their inside on their outside.” Once her flirtation with fandom is over, she will get back to the important business of planning a future with Simon. The trouble is, right now, Bleeders—and her fellow “Bloodygits”—may just mean the world to her. Will a single night of nerdery be enough?
Best-selling and award-winning author Nancy Werlin is best known for science fiction, fantasy, and suspense, but here she turns her pen to realistic fiction with broad appeal. Confirmed nerds will revel in a diverse cast, zany fandoms, and cosplaying crowds, but this is for any reader seeking a smart, breezy coming-of-age story about finding your friends—and your inconvenient self.
