Thank you @netgalley for sending me an ARC of Hockey Girl loves Drama Boy in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed this novel, but there are some issues I'll explain at the end.
Alix and Ezra are great characters, especially Ezra! At first, Alix's entire personality is hockey and nothing else. She's also severely bullied by her team Capitan and the coach just stands bye and lets it happen. Alix doesn't stand up for herself, but she starts to learn to be confident and by the end she leaves this toxic team to join another.
Ezra is attracted to all genders and disliked labels, he is kind and is always ready to help. I loved his character!
Alix's mom is a complicated character. She doesn't support her child in her dream and acts really selfishly. I really disliked her. At some point you have to let go of your past issues to do what's best for your kids and she only learned that at the end.
Ezra's mom is nice, but she's very impatient with him. It's normal for a kid who had an abusive dad to distrust his new stepdad for a while. She wanted him to get along with her boyfriend immediately, but these things take months. She should have cared more about her son's mental health than her boyfriend.
My main issue with the book is Olive, Ezra's best friend. She had been bullied by hockey players and so disliked all of them, which is kinda prejudiced. She also believe she had more right to be Ezra's girlfriend than Alix, since she slept with him once ( Ezra and Olive agreed that they are better as friend prior to the events of the book). She had no right to say that and sort of get in the middle of the relationship. She had her shot and it didn't work, time to move on.
Other than that, this is a cute love story with great representation!

TW:mentions of parental abuse, domestic violence, homophobia, bullying.

The title is a great tease of what this romance entails but what's inside is even deeper. I'm thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to read Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy early, thank you First Second for the ARC. I'm a fan of many Faith Erin Hicks graphic novels and I'm thrilled to add this to the list. Alix is a hockey girl struggling with her anger toward the captain of her team who treats her like garbage. Ezra is a drama boy who stands up to bullies who call him gay and is confident in his acting abilities. Alix turns to him for help in controlling her anger and they develop a quick friendship that leads to something more. I adored seeing the queer representation in this book that we do not see enough of. I'll be buying a physical copy of this one when it comes out, easy 5 out of 5 stars for me.

☽𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎☾

3/5 ⭐

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader copy in return for an honest review.

First and foremost, I adored the dismantling of canons. We don't have a hockey boy and a drama girl, but rather the opposite, which I believe is both charming and noteworthy. Although such a thing is not provided as a 'lesson' in the graphic novel, I believe anyone reading it may arrive at that conclusion.

I think the theme of sexuality is adequately depicted, particularly during the teenage years time in which the major characters find themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the main characters while learning about their backgrounds.

Overall, I liked the art style and story, but nothing truly caught me fully.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
I will update this review soon when the publishing date is closer and with the intention of adding a link to my Instagram account in which I will post this review.

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy follows Alix, the titular hockey girl who’s spot at the Canda National Women’s U18 Teams summer camp is endangered when in response to the continual verbal bullying of her team captain she punches her. In order to make sure she can get her spot and due to her feeling fearful of the potential lack of control from her anger, Alix meets with Ezra, our titular drama boy, who is cool and contained, to ask him to help her learn to control her anger.
I found Alix to be a realistic teen girl attempting to make sense of er life. Ezra has his own difficulties and they are able to work together to solve each other’s problems. I think this story deals well with depicting bullying and toxicity within a sports team with a toxic captain and a coach who cares more about a successful team then the individuals on her team. The novel also explores Alix and Ezra’s family lives. Neither of them have their fathers in their life currently for different reasons and these reasons are explained and understood. If I had one critique of this book, it is that while the major plot points are handled, but that I did not see a sense of closure fully from the story. I would have preferred just a little bit more time with these characters in order to fully close out the story. I think a bit more of how Alix continues in hockey would be helpful in making me have a sense of closure in the story. Overall, though, I did enjoy the story. Hicks’s art is well done and entertaining and the love story was charming and entertaining.

This was a very sweet graphic novel and I especially loved reading a book with a female main character who played hockey as I find a lot of the hockey books I read are centred around male players.

The friendship, and relationship, that developed between the main characters was very authentic and the family moments were also very well done.

I have read several of Faith Erin Hicks' graphic novels now and really enjoy their art style and storytelling and this one did not disappoint. Will definitely be recommending this to students, my following online, as well as my hockey friends/fellow fans of my local team (particularly the younger girls) when the season starts.

This was genuinely adorable. The artwork was really well done, the dialogue felt natural, the relationships were interesting, and I loved the bi rep. I also appreciated Ezra and Alix's relationship and friendship.

I think it definitely felt a little underdeveloped, like if we'd gotten more we could have felt more deeply for these characters. Almost as if we were only getting 1/3 of these characters and their story. Take Olive for instance, her whole situation with Ezra felt random to me and I wished we'd gotten some more with that. Even everything with Lindsey and Alix – which was the catalyst for Alix speaking to Ezra in the first place – felt rushed.

I know the book is short so with that being said, it did a great job of giving us a loving story between two characters who deserved love.

Overall, cute, short, lovable, and worth the read.

Before I get into the bulk of my review, I want to say a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at First Second for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. In this graphic novel, we follow Alix who is a superstar on her high school's hockey team and Ezra who is well loved in the high school's drama team. One day after a game, Alix gets into a physical fight with her team captain and turns to calm, cool, collected Ezra for advice on dealing with her temper. As they begin to spend time together, they learn from each other and lean on one another for support which leads to feelings. Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy comes out on October 3rd and is available for pre-order now.

I gave out a five star last month and now I'm giving out another one? Who am I? Well, I'm a girl who loves hockey and a girl who loves some contemporary graphic novels. One of my favorite graphic novels of all time is also from First Second and is about hockey. None of this should surprise anyone. I loved the communication style between the different characters which sounds like a weird compliment, but sometimes in stories the characters don't act or sound like teenagers. In this one, we see teens doing the teenage thing: withholding their feelings until they can't take it anymore and blowing up, feeling upset at one person and taking it out on another person, feeling hurt and lashing out at the person doing the hurting. The characters still managed to later communicate effectively with others and deal with the things they said or they way they acted in the end. I just like that we had teenagers acting like teenagers. I also loved the hockey stuff. I am who I am. It didn't dive too deeply into the hockey scene but I got enough to make me happy. Especially at the end when we got to see some hockey newbs watch hockey for the first time. The relationship between Alix and Ezra was sweet and tentative but their relationship wasn't a make or break on this comic for me. There were a couple of panels I wanted to screenshot because they were so adorable.

I didn't 100% love the art style. I get migraines so reading a mostly black, white, and blue comic on an electronic device wasn't great for me. I ended up pulling out my old blue light glasses to try to stave off a headache. That's not really the fault of the author, the publisher, or anyone really. Just a fact of trying to read the comic. It wouldn't be a problem at all if I had read it physically.

Overall, this was so cute, so sweet, and just enough hockey to keep me happy. This isn't the first thing I've read with Faith Erin Hicks's name attached and it definitely won't be the last.

This was such a sweet contemporary romance. I loved how the author played with gender norms where the female protagonist read more masculine and was the one trying to unravel how to manage her anger while the male protagonist is more in tune with his emotions. The characters have a strong connection and while you are one hundred percent rooting for them, they are also allowed to be flawed. Another fantastic graphic novel from Faith Erin Hicks.

Absolutely adored this! The concept was so cheeky and I loved how their roles played out in the book. It was very immersive and I seriously need more!!

It was really cute ! It followed a female hockey player and a male hockey player and their relationship together as well as their relationships with those around them. I’ve been excited about other books by this author, my only complaint is that I find that the characters tend to meet super fast and the resolution comes fairly fast as well. It was an extremely enjoyable read none the less !

Also big thank you to net galley and publisher for an arc <3

This was amazing! I loved the two main characters together and i loved that the girl was taller than the boy because we never get to see that. It talked about some heavy topics like bullying and homophobia which was handled really well. The romance between the two MCs was so cute and adorable. I really appreciated everything this book had to offer. Just thought that it ended abruptly which might be why i wanted more!

Thank you to Netgalley and First Second Books for the eARC.

I REALLY loved this graphic novel. Ezra has my whole heart, and I love him and Alix together so much, especially with how the text subverts gender roles and gendered expectations. My only real criticism is that I felt the ending came too soon and wasn't as satisfying as it could've been. It feels too open-ended and comes before some important plots reached their resolution.

This was a really good graphic novel about hockey, bullying and needing to stand up to bullies since standing by while they bully other people you are part of the problem. Alix and Ezras relationship is great and I love that he is bi but everyone thinks he’s gay and Alix doesn’t think she has a chance with him since she doesn’t know. So when he says he likes her she is kind of thrown off guard since she assumed he was gay like everyone else in school does. Alix finally gets control of her temper and deals with her captain of her hockey team who bullies her by quitting since her teammates haven’t had her back since they don’t want to be bullied themselves. Also Alix ends up finding her dad who she hasn’t seen since her parents split up.
Thanks to First Second and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Genre: Young Adult Graphic Novel/Contemporary/LGBTQ
Rating: 5/5

Thank you to NetGalley, First Second Books, First Second, and Faith Erin Hicks for the opportunity to read Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy in exchange for an honest review.

I can't emphasize enough how amazing and BRILLIANT this graphic novel is. The story is realistic, down-to-earth, and relatable. I love the pencil gray tone style with blue added here and there for accent, gorgeous art that makes this graphic novel stand out.

Alix loves hockey, though her team captain bullies her. One day, the comments grind just a little too far and Alix punches her captain in retaliation. Ezra loves drama, and he is picked on for being gay (but he's not; he likes whoever he likes). When Alix observes Ezra keep a cool demeanor after being bullied by none other than the hockey captain's boyfriend, she finds that maybe she can learn something from him about keeping her cool when she is triggered.

Alix asks Ezra if he can coach her in how to reaact calmly and smoothly to situations that make her angry. As they get to know each other, they discover that there might be an opportunity for romance between them.

All the while, this story also explores family bonds, the family histories that scar us, and how to cope in order to move forward when it comes to accepting new family members or past family trauma.

A wholly realistic and moving book, I highly recommend this graphic novel to all teens, lovers of hockey or drama, or any reader seeking a genuine story that gives you that slice-of-life feel.

This was a really cute graphic novel. As someone who plays hockey, I always worry about hockey stories and the way they can feel inauthentic if the author doesn’t play, but this one both read and looked very accurate to me. I also liked how the conflict wasn’t Alix and Ezra’s relationship. This felt like a unique, interesting plot. I hope there’s a sequel!

This is such a great graphic novel for teens - while talking about issues of bullying and anger, it is also explores the difficulty in forming romantic relationships. When a boy is bullied for being gay, then starts to show feelings for a girl, that comes with all kinds of confusing information to unravel. Showing this struggle from Alix's perspective lets readers see that their assumptions about someone aren't always right and the feelings they have are valid. More so, it shows that it's okay to walk away from unhealthy situations when you have communicated boundaries that aren't respected. Amazing story!

Alix should be celebrating, since her hockey team just won a tough game. But when her teammate, Lindsay, decides to make fun of her after the game, she decides she can't take it anymore. The anger she normally keeps leashed lashes out. Now, Alix is in danger of losing her spot in the hockey camp she's desperate to go to that summer.

Enter Ezra, the popular theater kid from school. When Alix witnesses him deal with a bully with ease, she enlists his help with controlling her own anger. However, as the two spend time with each other, sparks start to fly. Maybe their budding friendship might just turn into something more.

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for an advanced copy of Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks to review! Ever since reading Friends with Boys, Faith Erin Hicks has definitely been on my radar. This opposites attract romance graphic novel should definitely be on your radar this fall!

The core of this story is the friendship between Alix and Ezra, and their budding romance. They both realize despite traveling in different social circles, they actually have a lot in common. They go on a little adventures together, helping each other out and meeting each other's families. The way Ezra helps Alix deal with her anger management, with kindness and consideration, actually helps her gain confidence to deal with her own bullies. Such a great character arc.

There was just one thing that rubbed me the wrong way, and it was Ezra's conflict with his best friend. It was a little too friend zoney to me. Yes, they're teenagers, but the whole thing just felt kind of awkward to me. Ezra is queer (without putting labels on himself), and there's a little jealousy when he starts dating a girl. Not my favorite plot line for romances.

Other than that, I enjoyed everything else! Hicks has such a unique art style, and I enjoyed the way that it was used in this book. All in all, if you like opposites attract romances, you'll definitely love this when it comes out in October!

Alix is being bullied by Lindsay, her hockey teammate and Captain. She belittles her in front of all the other girls, and they do nothing to stop it. After one win, when Lindsay steps to far over the line, Alix snaps and punches her. Their Coach tells Alix to reign in her anger or she will no longer be recommended for the hockey camp for the Canadian National Women's U18 team. After witnessing Ezra, the popular drama boy, easily bat away insults and push back with words against his own bully, Alix asks for his help. What follows is a new friendship, which soon develops into something more.

This is an adorable graphic novel focusing on a developing relationship between an anxious and shy hockey player and an openly queer, popular drama kid. The two compliment each others personalities and help to defeat each other's fears and others assumptions about them. Alix is powerful on the ice, but so unsure of the world around her off the ice. Ezra hides his hurt behind scathing quips and an easy smile.

The only thing I disliked is the lack of punishment for both Lindsay and Alix's coach. Lindsay's behavior is abhorrent. I loved when Alix finally spoke up for herself and called out all those who sat by silently and allowed the bullying to take place (which is just as bad as the bullying itself). And her coach was awful; she allowed the bullying to go on, blaming Alix, telling her to grow a "tougher skin" and that this is hockey, perpetuating a toxic environment instead of doing her part to change it. Gross! There is no place in hockey for players and coaches like that (kids should never end up hating the sport they love).

Loved that this graphic novel was black and white except for pops of blue here and there. The blue seemed to be used to highlight certain people, or emotions. Like when Alix looks at Ezra and the air around her is full of blue swirls. This allowed for the story to shine through and the art to be less subtle and more direct. The two main characters are really able to shine. The romance was slow, but flowed naturally as the two main characters confronted their own pasts and pushed themselves to ask for more for themselves. Alix works on her relationship with her artistic mother and Ezra confronts his own apprehension about his mother's new boyfriend.

There were a couple moments I think that could have used a bit more information, and I think if there is a second book maybe this will be talked about then and worked out. Mostly, it had to do with Alix and Ezra's best friend Olive. I wanted more of a connection there, or more of a confrontation in terms of past behaviour. But, I did love that this had found family elements, and that the theatre nerds were working on an adaptation of Little Shop of Horrors!

This was a cute story! I know this author/illustrator from her work on Pumpkinheads and I’ve always enjoyed her art style. This had a lot of sweet romance, friendship and family oriented moments in it. I liked the focus on hockey as well as theater. This was a nice and easy story that I had fun reading.
Side note, I’d love for writers to pick a new name for the typical mean girl in their books. I’m tired of the Lindsays in books making us real life Lindsays always look bad.

I absolutely loved this graphic novel! The art style, it's antibullying message, but most of all I like how it showed bi/ pan sexuality without making it a huge deal. It was introduced and handled gracefully! I can't wait to read more!