Reviews

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala

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bettielovesbooks's review against another edition

5.0

What a cute book, I loved, loved, loved it, it was so much fun, I laughed at loud several times, and teared up too, Raffy and Luca were both completely charming together and separately, and I could completely understand where both came from. The side characters were fun too, and I wish I could say cannot believe the parents were like that, but sadly I can.
The narrator voice was enchanting too!

m_wimby's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted

thepetitepunk's review against another edition

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4.0

This was fantastic. I honestly wasn't planning on reading it because I don't really like books that deal with breakups and I have no interest in cosplay. I'm so glad I decided to download the audiobook anyway.

Be Dazzled is such a wonderful combination of funny comments, tender moments, deep emotions, and unique characters. Somehow Ryan La Sala made me way more interested in the mechanics and competition of cosplay than I ever imagined possible. All their characters have some bad moments, yet I loved every single one of them by the end. I usually don't like dual timelines, but going back and forth between the past (pre-breakup) and present (post-breakup) worked well for this story.

If you're a lover of YA contemporaries, this one is a must read!

jess_mango's review against another edition

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4.0

Be Dazzled is an LGBTQ+ YA romance set in the world of cosplay. Raffy has a well-known artist as a mom and has inherited some of her creativity. Raffy has a passion for creating cosplay and even has his own social media channel about it where he posts videos of him making the outfits. His mom doesn't think highly of cosplay though. Then Raffy meets Luca, a soccer player from his school who has a secret love of anime. The two hit it off and Raffy starts teaching Luca about cosplay and takes him to a convention. The two develop feelings for each other but Luca hasn't come out yet. They end up going their separate ways. The book moves back and forth between current day when Raffy is in a big cosplay competition and the past when Luca and Raffy met and hung out.

This was a sweet teen romance that appealed to my inner geek. I've taken my kiddos to a couple of comic conventions where we saw people in cosplay. The book has a lot of creative characters who are very passionate at what they do. This was a fun peek behind the curtains of the cosplay world. Raffy is a talented and likable character and the book feels totally relevant and modern. As a reader, I couldn't help but root for Raffy and Luca.

I listened to the audio book and the narrator totally captured the spirit of Raffy.

What to listen to while you read...
Cosplay by Panda Bear
Rhinestone Eyes by Gorillaz
Wrap Me in Plastic by CHROMANCE
Hello Kitty by Avril Lavigne
Applause by Lady Gaga
Dress You Up by Madonna

Thank you to the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

bkschwartz's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This teen romance is absolutely the perfect read for crafters! Lots of character depth and development, but also many sewing, bedazzling, and craft foam scenes. Realistic with a satisfying end.