A fluffy fairy tale that’s enjoyable but not particularly memorable.
Brielle knows all the rules of the fairy tale, but will Bear follow them?
Brielle Da Rosa, a Portuguese British self-proclaimed fairy-tale expert, attends the aptly named Once Upon a Time University. While she’s working at a bookshop, she literally runs into Atohi “Bear” Yonas, an American who’s “Hispanic/mixed” and a star rugby player. They’re instantly smitten, and after a series of encounters, they’re finally brought together—but various challenges arise, calling into question whether the relationship will last. Doku uses text boxes throughout the graphic novel to list fairy-tale rules (“A good fairy tale isn’t complete without…a good villain”) and introduce side characters (“Pavão Castelo: Socialite and most popular boy on campus”). She also includes some thoughtful discussion around triggers. The art is beautifully executed, with the seasons and color palette changing in tandem. Although Brielle has vitiligo, the illustration style makes it difficult to notice; readers may only realize she has this condition because it’s explicitly mentioned. It can become hard to track the subplots because insufficient time is given to building any attachment to the story’s numerous side characters. Some hopeless romantics will be satisfied by this sweet and simple tale, although it lacks the emotional punch for readers seeking something with substance.
A fluffy fairy tale that’s enjoyable but not particularly memorable. (artist’s note, character designs, location designs, visual development, process notes, Bear’s journal, the cast) (Graphic romance. 12-18)Pub Date: April 22, 2025
ISBN: 9780593711170
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice.
A fall romance with a New England backdrop.
Autumn leaves aren’t the only stunning thing to hit the town of Briar Glen—so has good-looking new boy Jack Harper, and Lucy Kane is enamored with both. Her new crush is the perfect thing to take her mind off the fact that Java Junction, part of a global chain, is opening across the street from Cup o’ Jo, Lucy’s mother’s coffee shop, where they take pride in baking everything from scratch and avoiding artificial ingredients. But there’s more than coincidence in the timing of the arrivals of both Jack and Java Junction: The Harper family moved to Briar Glen specifically to open this franchise location, which will bring competition that threatens Cup o’ Jo. This scenario has the makings of a perfect autumnal adversaries-to-lovers romance, but the writing lacks charm and chemistry. Jack seems to be completely enamored with Lucy, but her character isn’t sufficiently developed to warrant his attention. Lucy’s friends are continually supportive of her but have few distinguishing characteristics, and the story is weakened by confusing timelines and repetitive elements. The resolution relies upon successes that come too easily and do not feel earned. Major characters are cued white.
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice. (Romance. 12-16)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781339030753
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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