I felt the story was lacking an overall theme to tie in both Ana and Sarah. It read like a character study of each girl and the ending didn’t have a super satisfying wrap up.

This book explores the relationships Ana has with her 3-year-in-the-closet girlfriend, Carina, and her new roommate/best friend, Sara. Ana and Carina have a very one-sided relationship. Whenever Carina calls, Ana answers--matter what that means for Ana's personal life. Ana will skip class to help Carina with her classical dance rehearsals. Ana's contemporary dance teachers notice and eventually she gets suspended for attendance. Sara helps Ana realize how toxic and harmful Ana's relationship with Carina is. Ana's open and honest conversations with Sara helped her work out her sexual identity. Ana and Sara's relationship is the real star of this book. They are so completely supportive of each other. I would definitely recommend this book.

I'm a sucker for dance stories (especially ballet), so I was really excited about a LGBTQ+ dance graphic novel... and Leap didn't disappoint. Popescu uses a gentle wash of colors to tell the story about a contemporary dancer and her secret ballet girlfriend. The story touches on all of the typical dance tropes- eating disorders, cruel instructors, envy among the students... but at the heart it's about a girl who is trying to figure out what she wants out of life, and what she deserves. The story was lovely, but I especially loved the illustrations of dancing. There's so much movement and grace! Popescu has delivered a great graphic novel that will suit many types of readers.

I loved the fact that this title deals with queen being okay and has no shaming between friends.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an early review copy.

Leap is hands down one of the best books I've read this year, and it would have broad appeal in most public library collections. Ana has studied contemporary dance for years, but lately, she's felt disconnected from dance and dissatisfied with her romantic relationship. Sara recently switched from classical dance to contemporary dance due to the recommendation of a teacher she admires -- or maybe it's more than just admiration. When Ana and Sara become roommates, they find they can lean on each other as they navigate the difficulties of both dance and romance.

I could not put this book down. The largely black and white art with shades of salmon felt unique and evocative. I read an eBook version, but I could tell there are some beautiful double page spreads for readers to enjoy in the print copy. Readers will also love both Ana and Sara and relate to their struggles, even if they don't happen to share them. I appreciated that the book emphasized the importance of friendship and community over romantic relationships. I truly wish I'd had this book when I was a teenager!