Jul 16, 2025
Not one but two ND Stevenson references on the very first page of Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton & Aśka (and the MC wears the She-Ra backpack throughout the entire story!)
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Not one but two ND Stevenson references on the very first page of Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton & Aśka (and the MC wears the She-Ra backpack throughout the entire story!)
Outfit swap!!
Don't they look just silly??? Silly little psychopaths.
Really hope to see some confrontations between them in s2!! Or maybe some backstory??? Eaitherway it would be great!!!
Spring into Extraordinary Graphic Novels from I read YA! 🌷🎨
Graphic novels are one of our favorite reading formats here at I read YA! It’s always such a joy seeing an author bring their magnificent storytelling to life with their artwork or another artist adding their unique spin! The possibilities are endless when it comes to graphic novel styles, and that’s what makes them so perfect! There is something for everyone! We have compiled some of our recent favorite graphic novels below that you should absolutely check out as we welcome spring and warmer weather! Whether you’re looking for stories about an adorable daydreamer, a dark secret, or two boys simply falling in love, we have it all! Happy reading!
Rainbow! Volume 1 by Gloom & Sunny
From Tapas Media, the same webtoon platform that brought you Magical Boy, comes Rainbow!, a new LGBTQ+ YA graphic novel series!
Teenager Boo Meadows has pink hair and a very vivid imagination -- she has trouble separating from the real world. In her daydreams, she dances beautifully at balls or fights monsters as a magical girl. In reality, she has a complicated home life, work stress, school stress, and a wicked crush on the girl of her dreams. When a new student, Mimi, arrives at school, Boo starts exploring a side of herself that she never considered before. As she grows closer with Mimi, it may finally be time for Boo to face reality . . . Who is the real Mimi? The one in her dreams? Or the one in real life?
Rainbow! is perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Magical Boy, full of heart, adorable illustrations, and a storyline that any teenager can relate to!
Start reading Rainbow! Volume 1 now!
Escape From St. Hell by Lewis Hancox
In this sequel to the Indie bestseller Welcome to St. Hell, Lewis Hancox tells the hilarious, inspiring story of coming into his own as a trans man.
For Lew, figuring out he was a guy and wanted to live life as a guy was the end of our journey... and the start of a whole other journey. Escape From St. Hell charts all the changes that Lew wanted to be made in order for him to live as a young trans man -- changes not just to his own body and perspective, but to the perspectives of the family, friends, and enemies around him.
As he did in his bestselling graphic memoir Welcome to St. Hell, Lewis Hancox charts his journey with plenty of laughs, a good number of cringes, and an honesty that takes readers along for the ride of Lew's life.
Start reading Escape From St. Hell now!
The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag
From Molly Knox Ostertag, writer-illustrator of the New York Times and Indie bestselling The Witch Boy trilogy and The Girl from the Sea, comes a darkly beautiful story of identity, family, love, loss, and magic.
Everyone has secrets. Mags’s has teeth.
Magdalena Herrera is about to graduate high school, but she already feels like an adult with serious responsibilities: caring for her ailing grandmother; working a part-time job; clandestine makeouts with a girl who has a boyfriend. And then there’s her secret, which pulls her into the basement each night, drains her of energy, and leaves her bleeding. A secret that could hurt and even kill if it ever got out -- like it did once before.
So Mags keeps her head down, isolated in her small desert community. That is, until her childhood friend Nessa comes back to town, bringing vivid memories of the past, an intoxicating glimpse of the future, and a secret of her own. Mags won’t get attached, of course. She’s always been strong enough to survive without anyone’s help.
But when the darkness starts to close in on them both, Mags will have to drag her secret into the daylight, and choose between risking everything... or having nothing left to lose.
Start reading The Deep Dark now!
Heartstopper 5 by Alice Oseman
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the fifth volume of the much-loved HEARTSTOPPER series, featuring gorgeous two-color artwork.
Nick and Charlie are in love. They’ve finally said those three little words, and Charlie has almost persuaded his mum to let him sleep over at Nick’s house. He wants to take their relationship to the next level... but can he find the confidence he needs? And with Nick going off to university next year, is everything about to change?
By Alice Oseman, winner of the YA Book Prize, Heartstopper encompasses all the small moments of Nick and Charlie’s lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.
Contains discussions around mental health and eating disorders, and sexual references.
Start reading Heartstopper 5 now!
Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton and Aśka
In this lighthearted YA romance, Maisie and Ollie discover that nothing beats the feeling of falling in love for the first time.
Maisie is on her way to Fancon! She's looking forward to meeting her idol, Kara Bufano, the action hero from her favorite TV show, who has a lower-leg amputation, just like Maisie. But when Maisie and her mom arrive at the convention center, she is stopped in her tracks by Ollie, a cute volunteer working the show. They are kind, charming, and geek out about nerd culture just as much as Maisie does. And as the day wears on, Maisie notices feelings for Ollie that she's never had before. Is this what it feels like to fall in love?
Perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, this graphic novel debut is a fresh, one-of-a-kind story that celebrates the excitement of meeting someone special for the first time.
Start reading Stars in Their Eyes now!
The Good Neighbors by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh
From the bestselling author of The Cruel Prince, an astonishing graphic trilogy set in a faerie world, full of mystery, intrigue, and romance.
From the amazing imagination of bestselling author Holly Black and acclaimed illustrator Ted Naifeh, a mysterious and wonderful faerie saga, for the first time in one volume.
Rue Silver's mother has disappeared... and her father has been arrested, suspected of killing her. But it's not as straightforward as that. Because Rue is a faerie, like her mother was. And her father didn't kill her mother -- instead, he broke a promise to Rue's faerie king grandfather, which caused Rue's mother to be flung back to the faerie world. Now Rue must go to save her -- and defeat a dark faerie that threatens our very mortal world.
Start reading The Good Neighbors now!
Stars In Their Eyes by Jessica Walton and Aśka
(2021)
From the Publisher:
Maisie has always dreamed of meeting her hero, Kara Bufano, an amputee actor who plays a kick-arse amputee character in her favourite show. Fancon is big and exciting and exhausting. Then she meets Ollie, a cute volunteer who she has a lot in common with. Could this be the start of something, or will her mum, who doesn’t seem to know what boundaries are, embarrass her before she and Ollie have a chance?
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
‘Stars in Their Eyes is a captivating graphic novel with a beautiful art style, a diverse and inclusive cast and a fluffy like-at-first-sight romance that will have fans miss conventions and meet cutes to boot.’ Nerd Daily
‘Give me all the nerdiness, all the love, and all the cracking visuals.’ AU Review
‘I really enjoyed reading Stars in Their Eyes. I found it really sweet, fun, and relatable, especially as a queer and neurodivergent con-goer and nerd (with an embarrassing mum!), and I think others will too.’ Clare, age 15, Kids’ Reading Guide
‘Stars in Their Eyes is a very necessary story, representing the various ways we love each other and the diversity of the bodies we inhabit. As storytellers, Jessica Walton and Aśka invite us to see that it’s our daily interactions, and our ways of communicating with each other, that will create a more accessible future.’ Reading Time
‘A refreshing, fun and hopeful take on the coming-of-age story … a graphic novel that celebrates nerdness and reinforces the value of representation, while exploring first love, self-care and identity.’ Martha Mihalick
‘… this graphic novel is a quick insight and journey of empathy.’ ReadPlus
‘Disability rep is still far too rare in YA, and I am just so glad that Stars in Their Eyes exists for teens (and adults!) who still haven’t been able to see themselves and their experiences in the media they consume.’ Delicate Eternity
‘Stars in Their Eyes is a great exploration of disability and identity, with a particular focus on representation in media, ableism and accessibility.’ ALIA
‘Beautifully illustrated …’ AEUnews
Goodreads
5 Book Recs Based on Your Favorite Holiday Rom-Com!❄️💝
The holiday season is special for many reasons, but one of my favorites is watching all of the cheesy and sweet holiday rom-coms every year. It always warms my heart and reminds me just how filled with love everyone is this time of year (unless you’re Scrooge). To celebrate this season, we tapped into our inner romantic to provide book recs for those of you who may have already finished your yearly holiday movie binge!
If you like You’ve Got Mail (1998), then you might like I Hope This Doesn’t Find You!
The intense and passionate internet romance that blossoms between Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks’ characters in You’ve Got Mail is one for the ages. It sets the benchmark for enemies-to-lovers romances as the two eventually discover that the person they’ve fallen for is the very person they’ve grown to despise. Fans of this burning romance will love Ann Liang’s newest novel, I Hope This Doesn’t Find You, a snarky academic rivals-to-lovers story that you won’t be able to put down!
If you like Single All the Way (2021), then you might like The Feeling of Falling in Love!
Single All the Way is a hilarious queer holiday rom-com centered around the chaos that ensues when your family is determined to set you up with your bff/roommate. And while this takes friends-to-lovers to a whole new level, maybe, just maybe, your family has a point. Fans of Single All the Way will be head over heels for Mason Deaver’s The Feeling of Falling in Love, a new kind of love story about bad decisions we make and the people (aka your roommate/reluctant wedding date) who help get us back on the right path.
If you like Happiest Season (2020), then you might like What a Desi Girl Wants!
One of the newest holiday movies on the list, this charming sapphic holiday rom-com starring Kristen Stewart is about wanting your family’s acceptance while staying true to yourself. Fans of Happiest Season will love Sabina Khan’s What a Desi Girl Wants, a brilliant love story filled with nuanced family dynamics and a sprinkling of sabotage that’s sure to set your queer (or not so queer) heart ablaze.
If you like The Holiday (2006), then you might like Stars in Their Eyes!
The Holiday, featuring an all-star cast of Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black, is one of the best meet-cute holiday romances of all time. The film not only puts you in the holiday spirit but also has heartwarming storylines that will make you believe in love again. Fans of The Holiday and quirky meet-cutes will fall hard and fast for Stars in Their Eyes from Jessica Walton and Aśka, a one-of-a-kind YA graphic novel that celebrates the excitement of meeting someone special for the first time.
If you like When Harry Met Sally (1989), then you might like Rosewood!
When Harry Met Sally might take the crown for one of the most famous rom-com movies of all time, the holiday celebrations in the film always leave me feeling so festive, but if I’ve learned one thing from this well-known romance, it’s that you should always, ALWAYS, follow your heart. Fans of this quirky love story will absolutely adore Sayantani DasGupta’s witty and bright Rosewood, a romantic and funny retelling of Sense & Sensibility set at a Bridgerton-esque summer camp, where Elia must choose to follow her carefully laid plans or let a certain someone derail them.
Read with Pride Love Stories Perfect for Valentine’s Day! 💟🌈
Believe it or not, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! It’s the perfect time of year to grab a romantic read and fantasize about your own Valentine. At I read YA, we believe everyone deserves to see themselves represented in all aspects of life so we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite queer romances for you to add to your shelf during this season of love! We hope you fall in love with these sweet reads just as much as we have!
Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton & Aśka
Maisie is on her way to Fancon! She's looking forward to meeting her idol, Kara Bufano, the action hero from her favorite TV show, who has a lower-leg amputation, just like Maisie. But when Maisie and her mom arrive at the convention center, she is stopped in her tracks by Ollie, a cute volunteer working the show. They are kind, charming, and geek out about nerd culture just as much as Maisie does. And as the day wears on, Maisie notices feelings for Ollie that she's never had before. Is this what it feels like to fall in love?
Start reading Stars in Their Eyes now!
Love Letters for Joy by Melissa See
Less than a year away from graduation, seventeen-year-old Joy is too busy overachieving to be worried about relationships. She’s determined to be Caldwell Prep’s first disabled valedictorian. And she only has one person to beat, her academic rival Nathaniel.
But it’s senior year and everyone seems to be obsessed with pairing up. One of her best friends may be developing feelings for her and the other uses Caldwell’s anonymous love-letter writer to snag the girl of her dreams. Joy starts to wonder if she has missed out on a quintessential high school experience. She is asexual, but that’s no reason she can’t experience first love, right?
She writes to Caldwell Cupid to help her sort out these new feelings and, over time, finds herself falling for the mysterious voice behind the letters. But falling in love might mean risking what she wants most, especially when the letter-writer turns out to be the last person she would ever expect.
Start reading Love Letter for Joy now!
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the fifth volume of the much-loved HEARTSTOPPER series, featuring gorgeous two-color artwork.
Nick and Charlie are in love. They’ve finally said those three little words, and Charlie has almost persuaded his mum to let him sleep over at Nick’s house. He wants to take their relationship to the next level... but can he find the confidence he needs? And with Nick going off to university next year, is everything about to change?
Start reading Heartstopper Volume 5 now!
What a Desi Girl Wants by Sabina Khan
Mehar hasn’t been back to India since she and her mother moved away when she was only four. But when her father announces his engagement to socialite Naz, Mehar reluctantly agrees to return for the wedding. While her father still doesn’t make the time for her, Mehar barely cares once she meets Sufiya, her grandmother’s assistant, and one of the most grounded, thoughtful, kind people she’s ever met! Meanwhile, Mehar’s dislike for Naz and her social media influencer daughter, Aleena, deepens. Mehar’s starting to think that putting a stop to this wedding might be the best thing for everyone involved.But what happens when telling her father the truth about Naz and Aleena means putting her relationship with Sufiya at risk . . .
Start reading What a Desi Girl Wants now!
Sixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot
Sixteen-year-old Charlie Frith has problems. His crush is dating someone else, his sisters have glitter-bombed his prosthesis (again), and he's a seer-of-spirits in York, the most haunted city in England, and all his friends are ghosts.
To make matters worse, it seems that famous spirits are mysteriously vanishing from York's haunted streets and alleys. Charlie is determined to stay out of it, but Sam, the irritating new seer in town, expects him to track down who -- or what -- is responsible and uncover the dark purpose behind these disappearances.
But when one of Charlie's ghostly friends vanishes, he has no choice but to face the shadows -- and his growing feelings for Sam. The boys must be willing to risk it all to save York’s spirits, because this adversary will stop at nothing to complete their devastating plan. Afterlives are at stake, and Charlie is running out of time . . .
Start reading Sixteen Souls now!
The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver
Just days before spring break, Neil Kearney is set to fly across the country with his childhood friend (and current friend-with-benefits) Josh, to attend his brother's wedding—until Josh tells Neil that he's in love with him and Neil doesn't return the sentiment.
With Josh still attending the wedding, Neil needs to find a new date to bring along. And, almost against his will, roommate Wyatt is drafted.
At first, Wyatt (correctly) thinks Neil is acting like a jerk. But when they get to LA, Wyatt sees a little more of where it's coming from. Slowly, Neil and Wyatt begin to understand one another . . . and maybe, just maybe, fall in love for the first time . . .
Start reading The Feeling of Falling in Love now!
Michał i Joanna tworzą szczęśliwy związek. Ich najbliższym kumplem i najczęstszym towarzyszem wypadów jest oczywiście Tomek. Roksana? Michał nie ma jej już nawet w znajomych na fejsbuku. Tak jest lepiej, mówi. Spokój, normalność, no i miłość kwitnie. Nikt im już nie szkodzi.