When Alix loses control after a hockey game win, she turns to fellow student Ezra who always stays cool in tense situations.

Found family, found friends, working through trust and relationships are all huge themes in this beautiful ya romance. I loved the character growth and the pacing, along with each and every character. I think this is such a stunning graphic novel, every bit of it was relatable and kind and good.

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks

releases 10/3/23; thanks to @netgalley & @01firstsecond for the ARC

SYNOPSIS: It should have been a night of triumph for Alix’s hockey team. But her mean teammate Lindsay decided to start up with her usual rude comments and today Alix, who usually tries to control her anger, let it finally run free. Alix lashes out and before she knows it, her coach is dragging her off Lindsay, and the invitation to the Canada National Women’s U18 Team’s summer camp is on the line.

She needs to learn how to control this anger, and she is sure Ezra, the popular and poised theater kid from her grade is the answer. So she asks for his help. But as they hang out and start get closer, Alix learns that there is more to Ezra than the cool front he puts on. And that maybe this friendship could become something more....

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO: bisexual love interest, girl hockey, discussions of feels, young love, great artwork

CWs: bullying, parent/child tension, unsupportive coach, homophobia, violence (punching), domestic violence (parent x parent; witnessed by child; past & depicted)

>> this story was delightful! it felt light and fluffy even though it addressed some very real, serious issues. i enjoyed the exploration of a new relationship where the male love interest is bisexual and proud. i felt like this was a great lil slice of life and fun to see a girl jock fall for the “gay” drama boy.

So heartfelt, beautiful, and well-written and the two-color illustration style created a stunning effect that made the story even more memorable. Even though it discusses serious topics, this book was genuinely so adorable and sweet. I loved every second!

This was an excellent graphic novel, full of emotion, nuance, and fun characters. Author Hicks does a great job of conveying and writing the intricacies of being a modern teen while also creating a nice romance.

Story: Alix is the star hockey player in her area. Everything would be great if she wasn't constantly harassed and insulted by the captain of the team. When she finally snaps at the verbal abuse, she comes out of a daze to find that she has punched out the mean girl. Now, with a position at a prestigious hockey camp over Summer hanging in the balance, Alix has to come to terms with her anger. She approaches Ezra - the out gay guy who handles verbal abuse so well. Can she learn from him to keep it cool?

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Alix is a complex character - really great at hockey but terrible at dealing with people. Ezra is easy going and nothing seems to faze him. But both have interesting backst0ries that help us understand the way they are - and how they can mutually help each other fill in their weaknesses and help with troubles.

The art is in two color (black and white with a splash of blue) and conveys the story well. You definitely get a feel for the emotions and I appreciated that we could understand through the images a lot of undercurrents among the friend groups. I also like that Ezra may have been labeled the 'gay guy' but in reality is bi. His attraction to Alix is as understandable as her attraction to him thanks to the scenes invested in building the relationship by the author.

This is one of those books that rewards on second reading while also providing a really enjoyable first reading. You'll feel a bit better about humanity and the love story is really sweet. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

This was a really cute storyline and I adored the art! Some of the tension in the plot felt a little too forced but I overall really enjoyed this Graphic Novel.

4 Stars

I liked the book and the imagery. It was a bit long for someone that doesn't typically read graphic novel but the subject matter is important and well written. Kids of that age will feel "seen"

Pure golden goodness! I loved this graphic novel about a girl who plays on her high school hockey team and a boy who is in the drama club. I adored the characters and they were so real and relatable. Highly recommend!
Trigger warning for bullying.

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy is a very cute graphic novel that could easily have a sequel and I wish it did because they left several things loose. BUT if it doesn't have a continuation, I think it's a very interesting single volume and I like it a lot.

Here we find a girl "Hockey Girl" who loves ice hockey and who, according to her captain, does not know how to socialize, because when she goes to a party she does nothing but sit down. Didn't anyone think that maybe it's not what you're interested in doing? And that when a boy approaches her, she doesn't know how to share herself. Didn't anyone think that maybe she's shy or just not interested? Anyway, all this criticism rains down on her from the Captain who definitely shouldn't be a Captain and that's why our Hockey Girl asks the Drama Boy for help to know how to take these aggressions calmly and there they begin to get to know each other better and long live the love.

What happened to me with this story is that I felt like there were several things that were taken the wrong way (FOR ME). Because our leading lady was NEVER interested in being with anyone UNTIL the boy drama shows up (couldn't we think that she's just not interested in being with a boy or a girl?) and also that the attitude of the coach to throw all the blame on her and not the captain when the most toxic is the latter I didn't like it either but... isn't that how things work in society? That is why I am consistently between 3 and 4 stars.

I also felt that various issues in relation to the characters were treated a little too high and that there could be a little more development. But it's a 300 page graphic novel, I can't ask for much more in this case. That's why I feel like one more volume could be great.

The story is cute, it is interesting and the illustrations are very good. I liked the use of color and how it gives it a special touch.

Thanks First Second Books for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ezra seems to be able to hold his temper with local bullies in a way Alix hasn't figured out. So when she loses her temper with her abusive hockey captain, she approaches him for help. So begins a sweet friendship, and maybe something more. Here's something for fans of hockey, theater geeks, lgbt rep, and hard earned self love and respect.

This was so cute! I loved the illustrations and I’m curious if the physical copy will be full color or stay in that greyscale/blue tone as the digital arc.

I really enjoyed this story but felt like it could’ve been a bit longer! The ended seemed abrupt to me.


TW: bullying, homophobia, parental abandonment, domestic violence

This is super-duper charming. I love the unique characters. And I love the way that the bullying storyline is dealt with (while also not being wrapped up with a nice, shiny bow-because it never really is as tidy as some books make it seem).

For Libraries: If your realistic graphics are circulating well, then this one will be a good fit. Or your inclusive titles. Or female-centric sports titles. Or drama ones....

A hockey player trying to keep her temper in check after lashing out against a cruel teammate befriends a drama goy after seeing him flawlessly keep his cool against a homophobic bully. Neither of them expect for their friendship to become anything more, but something about them just clicks. Really cute. I do think it could've continued on for longer though TBH. I felt like it ended too soon, but maybe that's just because of how much I was enjoying it, so take that as you will.

Heat Factor: Smoochy smoochy
Character Chemistry: Willing to listen and be there for each other
Plot: Alix’s hockey aspirations are put in jeopardy, so she reaches out to the calm and confident drama boy for some pointers to get herself back on track
Overall: What an emotional roller coaster

Well. This book is definitely designed for its target audience, which is teenagers. I am not a teenager. There are some things I felt like it did well and some things I felt were perhaps a little heavy-handed.

As with most of the YA graphics I’ve really enjoyed reading, this book focuses on the protagonist(s) finding an emotionally healthy space for themselves. Actually, that’s not even unique to graphic novels, but I think the teen-targeted books of my youth were perhaps more likely to excuse bad parental and adult behavior (because they’re acting out of love, of course) than a lot of these types of books today. Anyway, I’m really glad that this book, in addition to those others I’ve read, focuses on understanding appropriate behavior and healthy communication. And in the case of this book, it’s not like the characters all behave perfectly all the time, but when they are given the opportunity to reflect on their actions they are able to communicate in a healthier way with those around them.

So, let me get a little more into the weeds regarding what I mean by “understanding appropriate behavior” in particular. This story begins with Alix being harassed by the captain of her hockey team, Lindsay, who is unreservedly mean to Alix, even in the presence of the team’s coach. Eventually, pushed past her level of endurance by this bullying, Alix punches Lindsay in the face. Naturally, the coach holds Alix accountable for this behavior and calls Alix’s mother, who also goes off on Alix for punching a teammate. Alix is told she’s “too sensitive” by her coach, and her mother centers her own feelings about the situation, telling Alix that she’s embarrassed by Alix’s actions.

I know kids are really good at being really mean to each other, but I felt like the captain of Alix’s hockey team being openly and unabashedly cruel in the locker room, in front of the coach, was a bit heavy-handed. A coach might want to win, sure, but a captain is supposed to bring the team together, and how is that served by one who is so openly and viciously unkind? To the supposed star player of the team, at that! Add to that the coach telling Alix she’s essentially responsible for the captain being mean to her…it’s just incredibly toxic. Alix’s mother getting furious instead of asking Alix if something deeper was going on was another red flag. And that’s the point. Alix doesn’t really have anyone in her corner, so she doesn’t have any foundation of support that will allow her to face this adversity with equanimity and confidence.

Meanwhile, Ezra, having been an openly queer drama kid at school for some time, lets the bullying roll off him like water off a duck’s back. When Alix witnesses this, she asks Ezra for help, and a friendship burgeons. Now, Ezra and his friends are kind, respectful, and thoughtful. They ask for consent before hugging each other. Ezra’s mom is supportive and loving, and his mom’s boyfriend—whom he does not trust because of his father’s abuse—sincerely wants to be there for him. Although they’re both children of single parents, Alix and Ezra have completely different life experiences.

And so, the thing that Alix has to do is to come to terms with what she needs and wants in order to have a healthier life with healthier relationships.

It’s not a particularly novel narrative for a coming of age story, but it covers a lot of ground, from Ezra’s history of an abusive father and his mistrust of men in his mother’s life to Alix mom taking her feelings of abandonment from Alix’s father out on Alix herself. And including, at one point, Ezra lashing out at Alix because he learns some really difficult information from his best friend and discovers that his own actions are perhaps not without fault. Speaking of Ezra’s best friend, she doesn’t think Alix deserves help and support because she spends time with Lindsay, seemingly refusing to consider that Alix herself might be bullied just as much as the drama kids by Lindsay and her friends. There’s so much content in a relatively short book (I mean, it’s 300 pages, but even with a 300 page graphic novel, the page constraints mean it can be read in an hour, so it’s not really that much space to tell a story), and while it’s not particularly subtle about what it’s doing, it is also deeply concerned with Alix in particular understanding that she doesn’t deserve to be bullied and taking back her power in the face of Mean Lindsay and an unsupportive coach.

One other thing I really liked about this book was the way the bodies were drawn. In particular, the girls’ hockey team is all drawn with thick, athletic bodies. None of them have super slim waists or hips, and none of them is particularly willowy. Furthermore, Alix is just a little taller than Ezra, and at one point Ezra’s friends declare that they’re so happy that a tall and strong person is there to help them move stuff around the stage. It just felt like a bit of body positivity that wasn’t even really directly called out.

When all is said and done, I did enjoy this read. It was uplifting and sweet. But also I have to acknowledge that it was really designed for people younger than me, and the aspects I enjoyed less would probably resonate more with that crowd.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

This was so cute and the illustration style was very on theme as well as delightful. The romance felt well-developed and natural. Characters had lovely development and the book features great communication between teens in relationships, things that aren't seen super often.

Alix has plans to attend the Canada National Women’s Hockey Summer Camp, but when she looses her temper on a teammate her coach threatens to pull her recommendation. Determined to play the sport she loves, she seeks help from Ezra, the Queer drama kid who always seems to know just what to say to the bullies without loosing his cool.

As their relationship grows, Alix learns how her past behavior has been hurtful when she doesn’t stand up for others - as well as herself. To make meaningful change she’ll need to decide if her new friends - and herself - are worth a sacrifice.

This was another delightful read from Faith Erin Hicks!

Alix is constantly getting bullied and berated by her hockey team captain until one day, she snaps and things get out of hand. After witnessing how Ezra can stand up to his bully, Alix asks for his help. As they grow closer and start to become friends encouraging each other, Alix starts to realize that maybe she is developing more from Ezra than just his acting skills.

I thought this graphic novel was so good at exploring friendship and dealing with themes of bullying, abuse, and the act of standing up for oneself and holding people accountable. At times, I felt frustrated by this, but at the same time, it did feel like these characters were in high school and had to deal with homophobia and people projecting insecurities onto others. I’m aware that I’m not the target audience for this graphic novel and I feel like a lot of my nitpicking is directly connected to that.

Thank you to Netgalley and First Second Books, First Second for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

After blowing up at her Hockey captain, Alix seeks out cool and calm Ezra to help her to manage her anger. I thought this was very cute and I loved the art. I wish that the characters and stories were a bit more developed but I still very much enjoyed it.

Want a cutesy book that will make you feel warm and fuzzy? Here ya go! I am in my hockey romance phase so this was great!

Overall, this graphic novel had a great story with a great meaning behind it. Learning to stand up for yourself the right way, learning that sometimes trying to be everyone's friend is not actually helpful, and learning more about who you are and who you can be without people dragging you down. I liked that the girl was the athlete in this story, with the boy being the one in drama. I also overall just liked the concept since I love both of these things dearly. The mix of hockey, drama and how to navigate those differences was done really well. The art style was good too, though I will say I tend to like more color. I also like the learning how to deal with relationships with parents and the trauma that parents don't realize they are passing down.

3.5/5 stars

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Steam? A handful of kisses
Humor: A bit
Cliffhanger: No, HFN
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley

Basic plot:
Alix has an angry conflict with the captain of her team and reaches out to Ezra to help her learn to keep her calm

Give this a try if you want:
- Contemporary romance graphic novel
- British Columbia, Canada setting
- Hockey playing heroine
- Drama club hero
- Bisexual (pansexual?) rep
- Yardsaling!
- Lots of family love and character depth

Ages:
- High school mains

My thoughts:
The SMILE on my face while reading this one! So many adorable parts, the sweetness between these mains, the vulnerability – I just ate it up!

This one surprised me with the depth – I got so much enjoyment out of getting to know both Alix and Ezra. This was such a wonderful graphic novel and I adored it.

A few minor specific thoughts

I know you have aspects of bullying that’s going to come into play on a team atmosphere, but I struggled so hard with the coach implying Alix was too standoffish instead of addressing Lindsey’s cruel behavior. It made me so sad for Alix!

I seriously melted when Ezra went to Alix’s hockey practice without her knowing. So, so cute.

Love that the sweet smells of hockey were included, because as the wife of a hockey player, it is 100% true