"A charming POC-led WLW romance where two new friends hit the road in search of the missing volumes of their favorite manga.
Neesha Sparks is a disabled, vocal community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is an optimistic surfer - and, like Neesha, a new kid at school. When the two girls discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become more than just fellow new kids. But it was more than just having read the same book series--neither of them had finished it! Soon, they become new friends on a mission - to track down the remaining Navigator Nozomi books. This slice-of-life romance follows the two girls as they adventure across North Carolina to find each book, with their story intercut with the tales of Navigator Nozomi. Neesha and Gabby find more than just the books though—they find acceptance, friendship, understanding, and love."
I got an ARC of this book.
When I saw this cover, I thought the surfboard was a coffin. That is clearly on me and it would have drastically changed the tone of this graphic novel. Surfboard works better. Gabby is very much not a coffin kid.
The pros of this are numerous. The disability rep! Neesha has some issues with her disability, but they are not the fact she is disabled, it is how others treat her. She has some baggage from a previous relationship that make her less likely to use her chair. It was wonderfully done. She is clearly a badass activist, but that baggage can run deep. The biphobia that gets addressed! Bisexaul people do exist and it was clear the biphobia was wrong. There is retaliation. It was a power moment. The cute queer characters everywhere. The cute level of queer women around that just sort of make the story more whoelsome. The involvement of the parents. I would not have been surprised in the parents got together, but the way they were busybodies and supportive was perfect. The way that books brought them together. Having a manga bring the girls together was sweet and fitting.
The cons: there were some weird parts. Like what kid makes thousands of dollars doing cosplay sewing to the point of being able to buy a car and get it fitted to with hand controls? What parents let two 16-17 year olds go hours away and rent a B&B, especially after the parents know they are interested in each other and both experiencing disabilities that make this potentially dangerous? The way that the last book was acquried just felt weird and overly done.
Overall, suspend some belief and this is a wonderful read. If you think too hard at certain parts the story will crack. Read it and enjoy the cute, just go with it.
4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book.
You can buy the book here.
~Isaiah
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