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A review by bookwormjimmy
Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
4.75
Raffy is the craftiest person he knows. And his favorite thing to craft: cosplay. I mean, how fun is it to put together a costume of your favorite character and parade around in front of a bunch of other fans at the next convention. Of course, in the meantime, Raffy likes to stream his work on social media for all of his adoring fans. All ten of them or so.
Then along comes Luca, a talented athlete who has been following Raffy's streams for who knows how long. As they get to know each other and build a relationship, Raffy begins to see just how much of a fun-loving nerd he can be as well. Perhaps they could even cosplay together at the next Controverse, Boston's biggest cosplay con.
I adored this book. It's not too deep, not too dramatic, and very light on the plot. What this is really deep on is heart. These characters shine and make you want to comfort them and let them know it'll all be okay. The time period alternates between present and what happened a year ago between Raffy and Luca so that you can get a better understanding of their dynamic. I also enjoyed the focus on crafting and building cosplay, something that I haven't seen (at least not seriously) in a book, and I'm all for it. It also brings me great joy that these young characters are so into all the cartoons and anime I used to watch as a kid, and now I really want to go see a cosplay convention with all of these characters.
If you're looking for a fun YA romance with crafting and cosplay, check this one out.
Then along comes Luca, a talented athlete who has been following Raffy's streams for who knows how long. As they get to know each other and build a relationship, Raffy begins to see just how much of a fun-loving nerd he can be as well. Perhaps they could even cosplay together at the next Controverse, Boston's biggest cosplay con.
I adored this book. It's not too deep, not too dramatic, and very light on the plot. What this is really deep on is heart. These characters shine and make you want to comfort them and let them know it'll all be okay. The time period alternates between present and what happened a year ago between Raffy and Luca so that you can get a better understanding of their dynamic. I also enjoyed the focus on crafting and building cosplay, something that I haven't seen (at least not seriously) in a book, and I'm all for it. It also brings me great joy that these young characters are so into all the cartoons and anime I used to watch as a kid, and now I really want to go see a cosplay convention with all of these characters.
If you're looking for a fun YA romance with crafting and cosplay, check this one out.