There were quite a few aspects to "Veronca Comics" I enjoyed, primarily the idea of two teens from competing comic shop families crushing on each other after meeting at a comic con. That's just a super adorable premise! The characters are also nicely fleshed out, even the side characters were fun to read, and honestly I would love a Jayla spinoff novel. Also, everyone is very open about their dating preferences and sexuality, and there is a lot of wholesome support shown from friends and (most) family.

That being said, I just felt like the whole second half of the novel was quite repetitive and redundant. Characters kept having the same conversations about the same topics, and very little happened until the final couple chapters. Even then, it wrapped up quite quickly, and although I enjoyed the note the book ended on, I felt like it happened too fast to be thoroughly enjoyable. The pacing overall could have been much smoother. Lastly, there was just a little too much of that vibe of a girl thinking "Oh, I can date this troubled boy and fix him!" for me to be totally comfortable. It doesn't end up being quite like that, but I also don't think that line of thinking was addressed enough. No one ever challenged this thought and it really needed to be.

This last point has spoilers - you've been warned ;)

*A major part of this novel is the fact that Ridley's dad wants Ridley to spy on Verona Comics so he can find a way for their comic shop to buy out Verona. But this plot is tied up in basically a sentence that says Ridley's dad decided to just stop trying. That's it. All throughout the book, Mr. Everlasting was shown to be harsh, relentless, and cutthroat, but then he just...stops?? I don't believe it. Sure, Ridley was in that car accident, but when Ridley jumped off that roof however long ago it did stop his dad from being mean/cutthroat then? I just don't buy it, and it felt like lazy writing to wrap this up so blandly. ( )

* I got this book for review from the publisher for my honest thoughts*

I really wound up adoring this read. I love this book so much. I was so invested in both the male and female POV. I loved how this book focused on the comics world and beyond comics books and not just comic con. I also like how this book explored harder relationships topics including family dymamics, romance, codependent relationships and anxiety and depression. I thought this was realistic look at what comes after a whirlwind romance. but it was so fun and loved the characters and the harder topics. ( )

* I got this book for review from the publisher for my honest thoughts*

I really wound up adoring this read. I love this book so much. I was so invested in both the male and female POV. I loved how this book focused on the comics world and beyond comics books and not just comic con. I also like how this book explored harder relationships topics including family dymamics, romance, codependent relationships and anxiety and depression. I thought this was realistic look at what comes after a whirlwind romance. but it was so fun and loved the characters and the harder topics. ( )

audio fiction (9 hrs with Michael Crouch and two others providing perfect narration) TW: suicidal ideation, abusive/neglectful parents, panic attacks and extreme anxiety.

two queer (bi/pan) teens meet at a costumed Comic Con prom in New England -- she, Jubilee, a cellist hoping that a weekend at the Con will provide the needed distraction for her to ace her scholarship audition, and he, Ridley, a 17 y.o. with crippling social anxiety that unintentionally makes him seem mysterious and different. The catch: his megalomaniac villain dad runs the Geekery, a grossly unethical comics publishing corporation, and her mom's wife is the queer Latinx superstar comic artist and small business owner of Verona Comics that has been a thorn in the Geekery's side. They make a super cute couple, especially with the exquisitely delivered narration in the audio, and though they don't really know each other at all it's hard not to root for them despite the huge wrench that will get thrown in there when Ridley agrees to spy on the Verona store in an attempt to gain his dad's approval.

Ridley for sure needs a therapist and a good psychiatrist, but Michael Crouch's voicing of him is super adorable; Taylor Meskimen's Jubilee is also exceptionally good. End matter includes resources for suicide prevention and queer support. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. Not only is it a YA romance, but it is a story that also deals with real-life situations, including dealing with mental health issues. It was nice to read a book that represents all factions of LGBTQ, where everyone is accepting of each other, meaning, it was never addressed by any character in a negative light. I laughed out loud at the characters' sense of humor, got really angry at Ridley's parents, who chose to brush his issues under the carpet, which unfortunately happens in today's society. Well written, quick read. I also felt shades of Romeo & Juliet in the storyline. Any coincidence that the characters were named with R & J?? ( )