What a cute book! I am both a little sad and pretty happy that it isn’t nearly as much about sportsball as the cover might lead one to believe. It has not one but two school dances and a Renaissance faire (my fave sequence)! This all-pink-all-the-time graphic romance is about a love triangle between three high-school seniors: a soccer player (Chloe), a cheerleader (Regina), and the mascot (Hawkins). In addition to being adorable, this story has queer characters experiencing self-discovery that has to do with issues other than their sexuality, which is refreshing. Self-esteem, popularity, “coolness,” acceptance by peers and self, pressures of unrealistically high expectations, toxic/manipulative behavior in relationships—it’s all here. The fact that the characters are pretty much all girls who like girls is just the backdrop on which the drama plays out. Well done, Mari Costa! I will be requesting this title for my library!

Review live on Goodreads now. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5363812181

This is the cutest love triangle graphic novel I've ever read - especially since it's a TRUE TRIANGLE. The art is spectacular and I loved how she stuck to the red and pink color scheme throughout. It really helped her art style show through. And the plot, the plot!! High school is stressful enough without being in a love triangle. This felt like a really mature take on a YA romance - there's no homophobia or trauma shown, just pure cute young sapphic love. Chloe deals with her failing english grade, Belle comes into her own, and Gina copes with the stress of college. And amidst all of this, Belle and Chloe rekindle their relationship from kindergarten. It's like a next level version of high school sweethearts. Also I couldn't get over the mascot? It's just so adorable. This is the quintessential feel-good contemporary graphic novel, perfect for fans of Heartstopper or Unfamiliar.

*Thank you to First Second Books and Hear Our Voices Book Tours for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Costa created a LGBTQ+ teen- friendly graphic novel highlighting the evolution between relationships. In one instance a friendship can become romantic while allowing for a romantic relationship to dissolve. It is easy to forget how it felt maintaining these relationships while also navigating the stress of high school.

Regina, Hawkins, and Chloe all know each other in high school. Hawkins is the mascot, Regina is super popular and the head cheerleader, and Chloe is a sports super star and Regina's girlfriend. Hawkins finally gathers the bravery to ask Regina on a date, not knowing about Chloe, and is crushed by rejection. An opportunity presents itself in the form of an English tutor for Chloe, maybe Hawkins can get close to Regina? What happens when Chloe and Hawkins recognize each other from childhood? Could an old friendship spark into more?

Belle of the Ball was a super cute and quirky Rom-Com with all of my favorite tropes. At no point was I disappointed in the story or artwork, I loved the color pallet and the characters were real enough that I reminisced about some of my own awkward high school moments. I needed something sweet and lovely, awesome read.

This is such a cute story and the queer vibes are on point. There is something here for most queer women to identify with, especially young queer women who are just figuring things out.

While the story did feel a bit rushed at times, I enjoyed the light romantic tension and the clear aesthetic in this graphic novel.

This was so cute! A lighthearted sapphic romance. I liked that all three of our main characters had really clearly distinct personalities and motivations, and that despite the love triangle, no one was really made out to be a villain. The pink coloring is cute, and the character designs are charming and diverse. My only tiny quibble is that I would’ve like a little more closure on the end of Gene and Chloe’s relationship - it felt a tiny bit rushed. (And I can’t help but be sad a poly ending didn’t happen.) But overall, the growing romance throughout the story was really adorable! I can see this appealing to fans of Heartstopper, or anyone who likes queer sports graphic novels like Check, Please! or The Avant-Guards.

This was a very quick and cute read! I love the trope of "I didn't recognize my childhood friend and crush". It was sweet how Belle's and Chloe's personalities and interests just meshed so well together, and although it was mildly upsetting that their falling in love happened while Chloe was in a relationship, I think this made it realistic. Especially in highschool. Sometimes, I'd believe more often than not, people fall for other people while dating someone else as they figure out what they want in a relationship, and what makes a relationship to them more fufilling. A graphic, sapphic novel with this concept is great!

I was a little nervous about this graphic novel when I started it. I was a little confused with the character's identities, but quickly caught on.

While Gene's character started out a little destructive and I was curious where the story-line would go, I'm glad she chose the mature and more humble end.

This story reminded me why I liked reading graphic novels.

I am slightly conflicted about how to rate this one. On the one hand, it's really cliché, unrealistic, and full of shallow characters. On the other hand, it's kinda sweet and a little original. I really hated Regina right up until the very end. I thought Chloe was super boring and I wish it had been more obvious that she is probably supposed to be Asian (Japanese just based on the name Kitagawa). Hawkins was the only character that I didn't want to punch in the face and she was so cliché it hurt. But the story was decent and the art is good so it wasn't bad overall.

This was so incredibly adorable and I loved it. I absolutely cannot wait to talk to teen patrons about it. Easy transition for fans of Heartstopper.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a super cute graphic novel about three teenage girls in a love triangle. The story was very sweet and the art was really fun and expressive.

A delightfully cute sapphic romcom, perfect for Valentine's Day displays. Engaging and perfect for teens.

At long last, Hawkins has finally worked up the courage to ask out her crush, the cheerleader Regina. However, there’s only one problem: Regina already has a girlfriend, Chloe, who is an underperforming English student. Luckily, Hawkins is an English tutor, so Regina uses this opportunity to get Hawkins to tutor Chloe. Because she knows Hawkins will do anything to get into her good graces.

Regina’s plan works at first, as Hawkins gets folded into their friend group. What Regina doesn’t realize is that Hawkins and Chloe knew each other when they were kids. And there just might be some chemistry there, waiting to be kindled. Especially when they both realize they can be themselves around each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for an advanced copy of Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa to review! Not only does the cover of this book look absolutely adorable, but the content inside matches it. The story itself gives me a little bit of Heartstopper vibes, so if you’re looking for something that will just make you happy, this is the book for you.

The pink color palette absolutely works for this book, and the art overall is really well done. Costa transports you to this story, and emphasizes the emotions of her characters through the writing and through the facial expressions throughout. You will fall in love with the cast of characters instantly, and the chemistry between them is just phenomenal.

I also appreciated that Hawkins fails when she first asks out her crush, but she’s eventually able to curate a friendship from that. It also makes her realize that there’s maybe someone else that has caught her eye. Bonus: there’s also a Ren Fair at one point, which is just a fun addition to this light-hearted romantic comedy.

All in all, I absolutely loved this and will probably be buying a copy when it comes out in March!

A realistic fiction romance book about the quiet and smart Belle who starts tutoring the girlfriend of her crush leading to awkward but also wonderful situations as all 3 of the girls get to know each other.

This was a really cute romance between old childhood friends reconnecting and getting to know each other again as high school seniors. I really loved the artwork and the pink color scheme. I look forward to adding this to the young adult graphic novel collection in my library.

3.5 stars

This was a sweet little sapphic YA rom com about hopes, dreams, expectations, the ways they shape us, change us, and help us come together or drift apart. The story was sweet & enjoyable. The art style worked well for this, but wasn’t my favourite. This was a nice little boost of serotonin.

I was not sure I wanted to continue reading this because I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters, but I really like how it changed direction as it progressed. Sometimes in life, the individuals we started the journey with aren’t necessarily on the same path as us, and that’s okay. Forcing other individuals to share your goals and aspirations is not fair to the other individual. I really enjoyed this book.

this wonderful graphic novel is up there with the best. With just a small cast of characters we delve into high school life and a good few issues too - but always light-hearted and all positive. If you like Heartstoppers then this should absolutely be your next read. Also: happy endings for all the main characters too. STUNNING artwork, so fresh and full of charisma, and an amazing palette. The chat is great, but the silent pages really speak. Super clever, super lovely, I liked this a LOT!

A beyond precious graphic novel about queerness and identity explored through intertwining lesbian romances. All against a bubblegum pink background that is more precious and genuine than cloyingly-sweet I promise

This was adorable! A very quick read focusing on Chloe, Regina (or Gene) and Hawkins, or Belle as we later find out. Chloe and Gene are dating, but we quickly find out that Belle and Chloe knew each other as kids, and Chloe had a huge crush on Belle when they were younger. This book is all about finding yourself and the right person for you, and understanding that your plan might not be the right plan for you all the time, and you need to be flexible. One thing that REALLY threw me off, and I'm not completely sure if this was intentional, is that Chloe presented as a man throughout most of the book. That, however, is mostly a me thing, because I know that women present in all shapes and sizes, and no matter what Chloe looks like shes still a girl. Overall, this was an adorable romance between two of them, and an inward look for the third.