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
Somberly beautiful.
A girl goes in search of her missing sister and discovers a strange hidden world of dreams.
Corin, who’s 18 and dark-skinned, strives to protect her 12-year-old sister, Elly. But life as a thief is full of struggle, poverty, and loss, even without Corin’s avoidance of other relationships. Elly clings to the promise of fairy tales, like the one that says a princess lies sleeping in an underground castle after pricking her finger on a spindle. After the sisters fight and Elly runs off, Corin searches for her in Gyldan’s old network of tunnels—and finds the tale is true: Cursed Princess Amelia, golden-haired, with eyes like “sea glass” and porcelain skin, lies asleep, surrounded by flowers. Corin enters the princess’ dreamworld—the place “where your subconscious desires come to life.” She meets Briar Rose, Amelia’s alter ego, who experienced her share of sadness and wanted to fall asleep. Also in the dreamworld is green-skinned Malicine, the nonbinary demon who, despite having placed the curse of eternal slumber on Amelia, is mostly friendly. All three are running from things they can’t face, though the dreamworld may not give them a choice. Pham’s debut, a Sapphic reimagining of “Sleeping Beauty,” explores mental health and asks a lot of readers as it seesaws between emotional confrontations, time jumps, and scenes where one character inhabits the memories of another, all of which demand intense engagement. Still, the ending is earned as well as positive.
Somberly beautiful. (content note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
ISBN: 9798217113026
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Kokila
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK TO SCREEN
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