I absolutely adored this graphic novel and I am so glad I picked it up as my first read of 2025. Renegade Girls tells the story of Helena "Nell" Cusack, a semi-fictionalized take on a real life journalist in the 1880s. Nell becomes a stunt girl, or what we would now consider an undercover reporter. She decides to tell the story of the abuses and mistreatments of lower class women and children in the factories. The book also features a queer love story between Nell and Alice Austen (again, a semi fictionalized take) on the famous photographer from Staten Island, and an amazing friendship between Nell and Lucia, a maid in her family's home. The way the women support each other is such a great example of found family, and I love how the author was able to integrate that aspect into the wider story as a whole. The illustrations were also amazing, I absolutely loved the art style.
All in all this graphic novel blends real life history, romance, and friendship into a compelling story that kept me reading. I highly recommend!