Welcome to Litsy!

(2021) It's a gay YA romance about a high schooler who's into crafting and especially cosplay. He enters a local cosplay competition but finds himself pitted against his ex-boyfriend, for whom his fire still smolders. I liked parts and eye-rolled parts, but I'm bumping "So-So" to "Pick" because it's on Matt Krause's list of books to be banned from TX school libraries. Pissing off the haters always gets extra points from me

Read #BannedBooks !

The Boston Convention Center has good security, but it doesn't have missile launchers, which means it would have a pretty tough time defending itself against Evie Odom.

My mother.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

I did feel slightly disappointed by this. From the whole “Project Runway goes to Comic Con” deal, I was expecting more time in the actual making portion of the competition that was promised in the summery on Goodreads. And while yes, I did appreciate the happy ending feel good stuff, Luca and Raffy‘s mothers‘ character developments both felt too fast. Not like it extremely sucked or anything, still a decent read. Between a pick and a so-so. 3.75⭐️

#ThingsWeHaveInCommon first pick is Be Dazzled, definitely helped that it‘s on our good friend Matt Krause‘s list of 850 books he wants to ban! #BannedBooks

Between a pick and a so-so.

I felt lost in parts of the first half. I know it involves cosplay, but it was heavy on lots of characters. I‘m not sure how I feel about the then and now format. I also felt that only ½ a chapter resolving the parental issues didn‘t cut it. Raffy and Luca also never resolved what broke them up.

But…

I like how Raffy and Luca found each other again. And I liked the competition.

I thought the main character was understandably self-absorbed, but it made him difficult to like. Also, I was a little bored. Crafting isn't that exciting in print and I know nothing about cosplay. I think this was more me than the author.

@ShyBookOwl #FirstLineFridays

Listen, I showed up for a queer cosplay love story, and that's exactly what I got.

“Some kids do drugs. Some kids start fires. I embroider in the dead of night for the attention of strangers.”
✨
This was the perfect light, fun, fast spring break read. It‘s Hallmark movie (romcom tropes) meets Schitt‘s Creek (the narrator sounded like David Rose & at times his mom sounded like Moira). People unfamiliar with con culture might not get it, but to me it felt authentic & made me really miss cons.

#teachersoflitsy #ya #bookclub #lgbtq

I found the cosplay descriptions and the con experience a lot of fun but overall, I found Raffy to be a frustrating narrator with the end wrapped up a little too perfectly. I also would‘ve liked Luca‘s point of view

Happy Valentine‘s Day!! I received this as part of a Galentines #bookswap! Perfect book for me who is just recently single! #books #book #reading #reads

Oh this book had a dual timelime, a story about cons and creative processes and parents who think cosplay is just weird, and just captured all the sharpness of trying to be yourself.

I liked this one much better than Reverie. It was a wee repetitive, but the story was cute and delves deeper into cosplaying that other con-centered YA books that have been published recently.

Pete Cross does a great job bringing these characters to life, but ultimately Raffy wasn't complex enough for me to understand what Luca saw in him. As for Luca, he is nothing more than a hunk of meat until the very end of the book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Book Birthday to "Be Dazzled"!! This is a fun, easy read with a happy ending. Feat. LGBTQ+ themes, cosplay, and an impossible-to-please Hispanic mother.

I thought Reverie was forgettable, but I‘m enjoying this one which comes out (pun intended) on Tuesday.

Loved this celebration of crafting, cosplay and identity. My review has now being posted to my blog. #trishtalkstexts https://trishtalkstexts.wordpress.com/2020/12/29/review-be-dazzled-by-ryan-la-sa... Not going to be available in 🇦🇺 yet, but is released in the US on January first 2021. #bloggingandreviewing #netgalley #sourcebooksfire

Out 1.5.2021

A cute story of two queer boys discovering themselves (and each other) through cosplay.

A tale told in three days and in thirteen months

This book is chock-full of humor, sass, heartbreak, and just enough cosplay/pop culture to keep a teen reader interested. It dealt with discovering oneself and coming to terms with one's sexuality and one's chosen path in life, especially in families that offer less support and more criticism.