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A review by kirstie_eloise
Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.25
This was exactly what I needed as a pallette cleanser and change of pace from the multiple fantasy series that I'm currently in the middle of.
Be Dazzled is just so fun and cute! And yet, it still has just enough drama to keep things interesting, and enough depth and character development to feel like it's a quality read without being overbearing or heavy. I fell in love with Ryan La Sala's writing in The Honeys, and I'd say that this still has a lot of great moments without feeling quite as literary as The Honeys. Which, I think, is just the perfect balance for this book.
I really liked the use of the dual timelines going back and forth between what happened in the past and the current present story throughout probably 90-95% of the book. For some reason, this technique just didn't quite hit right towards the very end for me. I also felt that a few of the resolutions towards the end were a bit rushed and not as fully developed as I had expected them to be for a few of the interpersonal conflicts between various characters. I appreciated the resolutions that occurred, but they still left me thinking, "Why and how did this change when it had been such a big deal before?"
Overall, I really did love this book. If the idea of Project Runway meets Comic-Con in a YA-contemporary-queer-romance sounds like something you'd be interested in, then I 100% recommend Be Dazzled!
Be Dazzled is just so fun and cute! And yet, it still has just enough drama to keep things interesting, and enough depth and character development to feel like it's a quality read without being overbearing or heavy. I fell in love with Ryan La Sala's writing in The Honeys, and I'd say that this still has a lot of great moments without feeling quite as literary as The Honeys. Which, I think, is just the perfect balance for this book.
I really liked the use of the dual timelines going back and forth between what happened in the past and the current present story throughout probably 90-95% of the book. For some reason, this technique just didn't quite hit right towards the very end for me. I also felt that a few of the resolutions towards the end were a bit rushed and not as fully developed as I had expected them to be for a few of the interpersonal conflicts between various characters. I appreciated the resolutions that occurred, but they still left me thinking, "Why and how did this change when it had been such a big deal before?"
Overall, I really did love this book. If the idea of Project Runway meets Comic-Con in a YA-contemporary-queer-romance sounds like something you'd be interested in, then I 100% recommend Be Dazzled!