A strong series kickoff for fans of quirky, slice-of-life romantic comedies.
Expected to make an advantageous marriage, Jade Galbaud du Fort is far more interested in powerlifting.
Born into an upper-crust French family in an alternate world that creatively blends contemporary elements with some historical social customs and aesthetics, young noblewoman Jade is forced to attend numerous balls at which her mother introduces her to eligible suitors. While dancing with snobby Nathaniel, Jade makes a big mistake. Irritated with his obnoxious, nonstop chatter, she picks him up in an overhead lift—and accidentally tosses him into a table of refreshments. Her passion for building muscles—deemed inappropriate for a socialite—must be kept secret, especially as her family is in dire financial straits, so to protect her reputation, light-skinned Jade, who has orange hair and green eyes, exclaims that being swept up in love momentarily gave her extraordinary strength. But rumors abound that she’s taking drugs meant for horses. She must navigate relationships with friends, enemies, and Alexander, an attractive—and super strong—stable boy, who’s cued Spanish. This humorous, heartfelt compilation of entries from a comic series that was originally released on WEBTOON features simple and appealing cartoon art, big emotions, and intriguing characters. Readers will anticipate the resolution of storylines in future volumes; the romance and class conflicts are just getting started here. The robust cast of secondary characters have their own insecurities, which are explored as their friendships with Jade deepen.
A strong series kickoff for fans of quirky, slice-of-life romantic comedies. (character profiles) (Graphic romance. 13-18)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9781419777820
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Abrams Fanfare
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 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
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations.
Magic, mystery, and love intertwine and invite in this newest take on the “enchanted circus” trope.
Sisters raised by their abusive father, a governor of a colonial backwater in a world vaguely reminiscent of the late 18th century, Scarlett and Donatella each long for something more. Scarlett, olive-skinned, dark of hair and attitude, longs for Caraval, the fabled, magical circus helmed by the possibly evil Master Legend Santos, while blonde, sunny Tella finds comfort in drink and the embraces of various men. A slightly awkward start, with inconsistencies of attitude and setting, rapidly smooths out when they, along with handsome “golden-brown” sailor Julian, flee to Caraval on the eve of Scarlett’s arranged marriage. Tella disappears, and Scarlett must navigate a nighttime world of magic to find her. Caraval delights the senses: beautiful and scary, described in luscious prose, this is a show readers will wish they could enter. Dresses can be purchased for secrets or days of life; clocks can become doors; bridges move: this is an inventive and original circus, laced with an edge of horror. A double love story, one sensual romance and the other sisterly loyalty, anchors the plot, but the real star here is Caraval and its secrets.
Immersive and engaging, despite some flaws, and destined to capture imaginations. (Fantasy. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-09525-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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