I must fall in the minority with this one…because while the illustrations were pretty, the story was too PC for me.

So this prided itself on being a coming of age, mm, mystery graphic novel and it was for a good part of it.

BUT…

I couldn’t enjoy any of it because of so many negative overtones from racial slurs to white men shaming. Yes, the way they depicted the white characters was stereotypical. The general was rude, homophobic, and hurtful. The other prominent male was a drunk. The random males in town were all homophobic and “typical males.”

I’m sorry, but that doesn’t sit well with me. And the way the author uses Hispanic slurs and the person they were towards had zero reactions? Like what?

I’m not gonna say too much more. I just didn’t enjoy this one. I’m a firm supporter of LGBTQ rights. MM is my favorite genre. But when I read I don’t want to be bombarded by such heavy hatred in a seemingly cute YA story. Again, THIS IS A ME THING. Don’t hate.

This is a really great YA Graphic Novel!! Part coming out story, part meet cute with a whole lot of miscommunications thrown in. The graphics are amazing and fit perfectly with the story. This is a must have for all YA collections!

This was such a fun graphic novel! This gay retelling of northanger abbey set in rural texas really pulled me in. I loved our main characters and the mysteries going on. I loved the way this talks about the closet and repression and the queerness of horror movies. Also gay cowboys <3 with an amazing summer setting!

This was a really fun read! I found it to be to be enthralling and overall very interesting. The art was beautiful and so was the relationship depicted. I thought that the reveal could have been handled a little better but otherwise I don't have many critiques.

This book was okay. I liked the art style and there were some good chunks of the book. For example (spoiler warning) when we get the explanation of why the main character likes horror movies and how they relate to life as a queer person, especially in conservative areas. I think the jumping to conclusions was a little too unbelievable for me to enjoy, but maybe for a younger audience?

Really enjoyed the art style here, it's minimalist, almost tentative, which really gels with the story of closeted identity. The plot was good, though a bit obvious that it was a misunderstanding and the stepdad's change of heart felt a little sudden. But, I really enjoyed the ways in which Cade and Henry connect, struggle with their own coming out, and clearly fail to communicate in a very age-appropriate way.

This is a queer ya retelling of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, which I loved. I loved that it was a little spooky and that Cade overdoes the horror movies like Catherine Moreland overdid the gothic novels. The themes, however, are much heavier as the comic deals with homophobia and racism. The author gives a warning beforehand so readers who might not be in the right headspace can back off. I think the story itself is important to young queer kids who also deal live in more rural areas and who actually like living in a rural atmosphere, but can often find it hard when faced with the stereotypical rural attitude towards people who aren't like them. The art style is incredible and adds to the narrative, making the sweet moments between Cade and Henry even sweeter. Overall, a great new addition to teen graphic novels.

I love a well done horror movie and so does Cade, the young queer latinx boy in this story. His family is struggling financially and he and his step dad head out to a ranch to help earn more money for the summer. Cade is not into the idea, thinks the work is really hard, doesn't want to leave his home in Abliene, and is kinda scared about the idea of being a queer brown kid in the middle of rural Texas. And who can blame him? But when he meets the ranch owner's son, Henry, he thinks just maybe there might be something good out here after all. When he starts hearing scary things about Henry and his family he starts to wonder if instead of just watching from the couch, he might have fallen into a real life horror story.

This is a good book for teens who are allies and for queer kids who are just starting to explore their identities. As an older queer person I felt like I'd read this story before. I wouldn't recommend it to mature veteran queers though. We've read it before. I did, however, really like the way Terciero spelled out the horror movies as a metaphor for queer life, I think that'll be a great thing for allies to learn. At points it did feel a little bit after-school-special, but that's why I would suggest it for younger readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this graphic novel. 4/5 stars.

Yes, it's a "horror" graphic novel, but not horror in the sense that I was scared for my life. It has a premise in horror movies (and a possible murder as in are these people murderers subplot) but the real horror lies in the discrimination and the attempts to understand themselves as Cade and Henry both discover each other and themselves. Cade is latino in Texas and gay (closeted). Henry is from a military family, lives on a ranch, and is closeted. Their worlds collide and so do all of the monsters in Henry and Cade's closet (pun intended).

The art style is well done, and I really liked the story and how it tied together in the end. It was difficult to read the homophobia, but it was well done and discussed well.

I loved, Loved, LOVED this graphic novel. The storyline, the characters, the setting, and the GORGEOUS monochromatic artwork were all exceptional. This is the kind of book I wish I’d had as a “sensitive, shy” closeted gay kid trying to figure my shit out and survive in 1980s-90s rural Mississippi. In my time I have dealt with many, but not all (I’ve never thought my crush was a secret homicidal maniac), of these same struggles as these characters. This is the kind of story that can impact and maybe even save lives by showing others themselves on page, showing others that they are not alone in their feelings or struggles. I think my younger self would’ve benefited immensely from such a book as this. Also, reading the author’s note at the end made me love it even more. I’ve never read Northanger Abbey but the fact this is a retelling of a Jane Austen novel is just incredible to me. So, so smart and creative. Just a beautiful, beautiful book and work of art. Kudos!

"Northranger" was a great modern take on the Austen classic 'Northanger Abbey.' It wrapped all the things I love into a fantastic graphic novel with incredible art. I was amazed at the level of emotion portrayed in the frames and how spooky the story got at times.

⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Before going into this, be aware of the trigger warnings since this book has very serious topics in here (domestic abuse, death in the family, homophobia, etc.). The author does provide a list of them at the start, so you know what to expect while reading.

I read this in like 3 hours and this was very interesting. Going into this, I did not really know what to suspect, but it definetly was a journey to say the least. It is like a gothic type graphic novel giving 80's/90's movie vibes.

The story is a retelling of Northanger Abbey, which I have not read, so I am not sure how accurate this retelling is compared to it. But this was still something I enjoyed.

If you want a quick read that has a mystery type of plot with queer characters, then I would reccomend checking this out.

I receivd an eARC from NetGalley & HarperCollins for an exhange of an honest review.

This was a beautifully illustrated and well written coming of age story. It tells the story of Cade a young queer teen who uses horror movies to escape from growing up in Texas. One summer, his stepfather takes him to the ranch of his former general to work with him. While there he meets the General's son Henry who Cade begins to like but Henry is good at keeping secrets.

At it's heart this is a romance but it explores the serious issues of mental health over hiding who you are and loosing a loved one. I loved the growing relationship between Cade and Henry. They were adorable, messy and so human. Their struggles are familiar for one growing up queer.

I have never read Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen so I cannot say how this novel follows but if you are fans of Chef's Kiss or Taproot this may be right up your alley.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harperalley for giving me an eARC. I give this 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Cade has always been a horror movie fan. Horror movies can be scary, but as a closeted queer teen living in Texas, sometimes real life can be scarier.

In order to help support his family, Cade is sent to a ranch for the summer to be a ranch hand with his dad. It’s there that he meets Henry, who seems to be the only silver lining. After all, cleaning up horse poop and getting up early aren’t exactly what Cade had in mind for the summer.

But something sinister seems to be happening behind the scenes with Henry’s family. Can Cade figure it out before it’s too late?

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an advanced copy of Northranger by Rey Terciero to review! Always down for a good queer graphic novel, so I was excited to pick this one up. From the art to the writing, I am happy to say that this one didn’t disappoint!

This is a loose retelling of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, which Terciero talks about in the afterward. I haven’t read that particular Jane Austen book, so I didn’t realize that until the end! What I liked about the story was the way that horror movie elements were infused throughout, from the layout of some panels to the story with Henry’s family. It made the writing engaging, and paralleled what was happening in Cade’s own life.

The romance between Cade and Henry is sweet, but it also deals with difficult issues like mental illness and family acceptance. As we know from the current state of book challenges in Texas, being a queer teen there isn’t always easy. I appreciated the way this was acknowledged, and the ways that Henry and Cade dealt with it in different ways. There’s a little something for everyone there.

With a great cast of side characters as well, I think this will make a great summer read when it comes out in June. If you’re a fan of queer YA graphic novels, this one should definitely be on your radar.

I only recently got more into graphic novels and this one sure incentivised me to keep on discovering new ones. It got me hooked from the very early start!

It went over some dark subjects but I still felt like it kept up the good spirits and hope. There are a lot of good lessons between the lines and for us in the LGBTQ+ community I think it will speak to you in many levels.

Set in Texas and with a father that is no longer with him I felt connected to the story and felt for the characters going through tough situations.

Overall a fantastic job, loved the illustrations and also the additional context by the author give inside.

Cade Muñoz lives in central Texas with his mother, abuela, stepfather, and sister. Horror movies are his only escape from the terror of growing up a queer teen in Texas. To make money his stepfather takes him for the summer to the Tyler ranch to work for a his former general from the military. Cade and the General’s son, Henry, but the eighteen year old cowboy is hard to read. Henry is good at keeping secrets, especially about what happened to his mother at their lake house, Northranger.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel inspired by Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen with a modern, queer twist. Even though this is a romance at heart, it explores the serious issues of mental health and physical health from several angles. The characters are really lovely and I loved the chemistry between Cade and Henry. The art is beautiful with a muted color palette and gorgeous illustrations that captures the gothic-ranch vibe perfectly.

Thank you @netgalley and @harperalley for the advance copy. This graphic novel comes out at the beginning of Pride month and I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate by sharing this book with all the teens and queens in your life.▪️

Northranger was a cute graphic novel. It had all the fixings to be phenomenal! However, I felt the story got rushed the closer to the end I read. I also feel like it ended abruptly and had some loose strings.

Overall, I really enjoyed this!

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and Rey Terciero for letting me read an eARC for my honest review!

Northranger by Rey Terceiro releases June 6, 2023!

I got an ARC of this book.

Gay cowboy romance? Yes, please.

How did I become super into gay cowboy romances? I have no idea. I have zero desire to be on a farm or near horses or plants. I don’t even like masc guys 99% of the time. I am confused.

This book was a new look at the genre though. It is the first time there has been horror elements in a gay cowboy romance that I have seen. Though, they were more thriller than horror. The big horror/thriller element is: did the hot cowboy kill his mother?

I didn’t care. I don’t care about that sort of stuff. It bores me. I wanted to see how the romance played out. The romance was pretty much “oh you are gay, lets kiss”. There wasn’t really a build up or anything. So that fit genre perfectly, which is always a little disappointing.

Cade’s love of horror movies stems for his own fears about being gay in Texas. That was a fun little detail. I am sad that it didn’t go further and talk about how some of the biggest villains have been queer coded (like Leatherface). There was also not really any mentions of newer horror movies that actually had queer characters (Hellraiser from 2022, yeah the one with the trans actress playing Pinhead!). I might be a bit of a horror movie fan. So only seeing the classics and Stephen King mentioned was a little disappointing and odd. It was also odd, that there had to be research done to find queer movies when streaming exists? There are constant news articles on social media sites about queer movies and shows. It felt unrealistic that he wouldn’t know at least one newer queer thing.

So overall, it was a cute read. It didn’t really have romance full of feelings or anything really scary, but it did have complex characters that were all trying to survive. The characters are what did it for me. Seeing a masc guy actually admit to mental health issues is huge.

This is a modern retelling of Jane Austin's Northranger Abbey. I have not read the source material, so I can't attest to how closely it follows the plot, but I can say that is a very good book on its own!

It's a beautifully illustrated coming of age story set in rural Texas. Cade is spending the summer working on his stepfather' friend's ranch in order to help his family make ends meet. Henry, the son of the ranch owner, quickly becomes a potential love interest, but also maybe a murder suspect?!

Cade's love of horror movies, coupled with one of his fellow ranch-hand's disdain for Henry and his father, create a fun level of suspense/suspicion that leads to a few awkward situations.

Overall, this was a great book which I will be recommending to teens who like lgbt+ romance and graphic novels. My only reservation for suggesting this book to potential readers is that they be mindful of the trigger warnings in the beginning (so glad they were included!) as this book is set in contemporary rural TX, complete with racism and homophobia.

I was given advance copy by NetGalley for an honestly review

This is a modern retelling of Northanger Abbey and I think it did well keeping the original themes but updated, the gothic novels playing on the overactive imagination of the protagonist to the horror movies playing on the overactive imagination of the protagonist. Cade and his sister have a cute relationship that I enjoyed seeing.

The art style of this book is gorgeous, I kept going back to look at different parts over again.

Read the trigger warnings in the beginning since this place in a small town in Texas full of homophobia (and that’s just one of them). I wish it had been longer but I guess rereading this and will have to do. You should go grab it if you’re looking for a gorgeous coming of age story that deals with grief and first love.