So cute.
A charmingly cheesy fairy-tale romance.
With no legal means of inheriting the family estate after her dear father’s passing, a young woman disguises herself as a man. The newly minted Count Camembert moves to the capital city, Fondue, with trusted servant Feta and tries to keep a low profile. About to go bonkers from boredom, Cam attends a “no-furs” ball hosted by activist Crown Princess Brie. The two immediately collide and bond over fashion. Brie later invites Cam to a private brunch with friends (including delicious cheesy sandwiches) to launch a more targeted cruelty-free fashion event. The two are soon smitten with one another, but Cam knows she can’t get too attached. Eventually, truths come out and more than one heart goes on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. This story is such a joy—a spectacular, feel-good, comfy romance. Olive-skinned Cam, with her flowing black locks, is suave—but also, in Brie’s own words, “an airhead with the attention span of a worm.” In other words, she’s adorable. Brie, with her curly blond bob and pale, rosy skin, is conscientious and beautiful, and she will capture readers’ hearts as quickly as she does Cam’s. Plenty of roses and sparkles à la shōjo or yuri manga and cute, exaggerated facial expressions make the watercolor-style images endearing. The setting is an interesting mix of clothes and architecture that evoke the 18th century along with some modern technology and colloquialisms that add to the humor.
So cute. (Graphic romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 9, 2023
ISBN: 9780316538725
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
PERSPECTIVES
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship.
Shortly before the new queen’s coronation, a monster wreaks havoc, forcing a young fairy princess to intervene at her own risk.
In Pixie Hollow, the Never Fairies of Spring, Summer, and Autumn work to create seasons for the humans on the Mainland, while the fairies of Winter remain apart in the Winter Woods. Clarion, a governing-talent fairy who’s soon to take over as queen of Pixie Hollow, often looks wonderingly at the Winter Woods. But crossing the border is against the rules set forth by her mentor, Queen Elvina. When a monster from Winter breaks free and enters Spring, Clarion bristles at Elvina’s dismissal. Determined to be involved, she secretly travels to Winter, meets with Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and learns that the land is nothing like what she’s heard, making her wonder what else the queen has been untruthful about. Together Milori and Clarion work to discover the secrets of Pixie Hollow, which may save them—or lead to death. Set in a magical place of flowers and pixie dust, this story considers the control we have over the roles we’re assigned. Clarion is a beautifully complex character—strong yet insecure, lovable due to her willingness to prioritize relationships over rules. Themes of fear, forbidden love, and good vs. evil are present in this fast-paced, engaging tale. Main characters are cued white.
A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781368098458
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
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
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