Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - Be Dazzled

Such a great book to pull me out of a reading slump. This book is fun, a little dorky in a lovable way; the best way I can describe it is camp, very camp. I loved reading Raffy and Luca fall in love, both at first and then again, and I think this book really reminds you that teenagers are constantly changing as they figure themselves out, in a way that I think YA romance tends to forget in favor of the story.

The only thing I didn't really like about the book is the placement of the flashbacks. They're an important piece of the story and I think the book really would've suffered without them, but as you get farther into the "now" timeline, they start to feel like commercial breaks and totally kill the pacing. Putting them all in the front and splitting the book into two parts I think would've served each story better by allowing them to have room to breathe and tell their part.

All in all, this is a great story, one that I will absolutely be recommending to friends who are cosplayers (I myself am not, I misread the summary and thought that "cosplay" was "costume", and coming from a theatre background, my interest was piqued, but the book does a great job of being accessible to readers who don't really know a whole lot about cosplay).

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erin_362's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’m not someone who cosplays but I enjoyed this anyway. I listened to it on the eight hour bus ride we took for a band trip and was glad it was somewhat short because I finished it before we got there. It was really cute and funny, but the angst was there too and I loved it. The competition aspect was cool and the whole cosplay thing was too, and I liked all the references (even though I only understood a couple of them haha). The ending was nice and I liked the closure but I would love to see what happens with these guys next :)

Content Warnings

adamustdie_'s review against another edition

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emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

some kids do drugs, stome kids start fires; i embroider in the dead of night for the attention of strangers."
AHHHHH this book was perfect. it felt like i was listening to a close friend talk about his life as it is, not exaggrating neither playing down important and real stuff. while it it is a fun book about cosplay; it also tackes so many important issues such as homophobia, parental disapproval and mental health in a very real way. the characters were relateable and three dimensional. i laughed, cried, got excited, panicked, got hurt and smiled with the characters while reading.

Content Warnings