A heartwarming, swoonworthy adaptation that’s certain to delight new and returning fans alike.
In this graphic novel adaptation of Han’s 2014 classic, which was made into a popular TV series, a teen panics when the five secret love letters she wrote—and never intended to send—are mysteriously mailed out.
Lara Jean Covey is grappling with the fact that her older sister, Margot, is leaving for college in Scotland. Given the distance from Virginia to St. Andrews, Margot breaks up with longtime boyfriend Josh, a neighbor beloved by both Lara Jean and youngest sister Kitty. Lara Jean once harbored feelings for Josh, but when Margot started dating him, she processed her unrequited love in her usual way: through a letter. After her secret letters accidentally get sent to her crushes, Lara Jean must face the consequences. In a panic, she spontaneously kisses one recipient, Peter, whose own long-term relationship recently ended, in front of Josh. She and Peter fake date, keeping up the ruse to hide Lara Jean’s true feelings for Josh and make Peter’s ex jealous. But their pretend romance soon sparks a genuine attraction. The bright illustrations bring the endearing relationship fumbles and slow-burn romance to life. Lara Jean, whose father is white and late mother was Korean American, is a fully realized character—smart, funny, endearingly awkward, and deeply devoted to her family. Josh and Peter appear white, and there’s racial diversity in the supporting cast.
A heartwarming, swoonworthy adaptation that’s certain to delight new and returning fans alike. (character sketches) (Graphic romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9781665983112
Page Count: 168
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
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