I really loved the art style of this graphic novel, but the story was a bit lacking. It felt a little slow paced, with the dream sequences not starting until halfway through the book. The main conflict of the story (a pretty typical YA first relationship, interfering with the dynamics of a friendship circle) is definitely relatable to young readers, but might not be engaging enough to hold teen readers' attention. I think this story might have been better served by removing the one reference to characters losing their virginity and really leaning into the more middle grade feel of the novel.

This was an easy, innocent, enjoyable read. The dream artwork and transportation were realistic, and the themes of young love and changing friendship were consistent throughout the storyline.

I really liked the premise of this book. It discusses topics that are very relevant to an adolescent. It shows the importance of expressing your feelings. It also shows the power of friendship and forgiveness. I grew to like the story as it moved along. However, it wasn’t as cohesive as I’d liked it to be. The art style is not my favorite but I did like the parts during the dreams. I’m sure this will resonate nicely for the intended age group. Thank you NetGalley and idwpublishing for the ARC.

i really like how this started.
it was really great to see how amber, nico drew & the rest of the characters got along in the beginning.

i really like how the struggles of amber & nico balancing their first ever relationship with each other was conveyed. they are all moving on to highschool which is already a challenge, then adding their first relationship & not knowing how to maintain & nurture their friendships on top of that is difficult. i really like how the dreamover parts were done, the illustrations were really nice. you could see how nico wanted to make things right sooner than amber, did & how amber wanted to just keep going on adventures with nico. i also think amber was a bit irrational with her outburst.

overall, the message was simple & it was conveyed very well.

i would have liked to see more of how the group dealt with highschool life a bit more & i do wish it was a bit longer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me red an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

This sadly wasn't the graphic novel for me. With it leaning more towards younger YA and the overall plot pacing, I found it to be a little disjointed for the most part. That however might be the point with how they go into a shared dream but the chapter breaks lent more to the set up of their relationship and how things were cracking, versus the very short resolution to how they go towards fixing it between each other and their friends that they isolated from.

I was surprised to discover that Dreamover is a debut graphic novel. Dani Diaz tells a bold, confident story in this immersive story of growing up, and discovering first love.

The story follows childhood friends Amber and Nico as their relationship transforms into something more. It not only details how it affects the couple, but also how the relationships with their close friends are altered.

Beautiful artwork helps to express the feeling of falling in love for the first time, and of everything seeming like a dream, and the art is used to accentuate the emotions throughout the book.

This is a beautiful, uplifting graphic novel, and I will be keeping an eye out for more from this artist.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Short and sweet middle grade romance with the second half being in a dream sequence. There's a lot to unpack here!

Expected publication January 14, 2025

This graphic novel follows 8th/9th graders navigating friendship and first relationships. Unfortunately, I had difficult time getting into it. The story and imagery was a tad choppy and I felt confused as to what was happening at times. I never felt a connection to the characters as they weren't well developed.

The dream sequence was a cool concept and the whole intention behind my request for this ARC. It fell flat for me. We were here, there, & everywhere - just much too quickly.

I didn't like or dislike the art style - I could take it or leave it.

2.5 stars rounded up.

This was definitely an interesting read, I'm not sure if it's something I'd pick up again, tho. I feel like there were some parts in the storyline that were a bit confusing. The art styles kinda cool, too. I also loved the inclusiveness. It's a good read, but yes, it's not something I'd consider reading again but that's just my opinion

3.5 stars

This is a sweet story about first relationships and navigating changing priorities and evolving friendships especially at that age when everything feels like life and death. I thought that the depiction of being lost in a dream world to showcase how young people can get into relationships and then isolate themselves from everyone else that they care about. It was a good exploration of some harder topics for older middle grade audiences and definitely something that I think should be on the rotation for a lot of households.

Amber and Nico have been best friends ever since they can remember
As they grow into preteens, they discover new feels for each other
Amber confesses her feelings for Nico in grade 8 and they spend the summer together preparing to enter high school
Bonding over video games one night they enter a lucid dream where anything is possible and the adventures are endless
A cute middle grade/preteen story on the tough stuff * class/homework, friendships, bullies and overall balanace

thank you netgalley for giving me an earc

i really like the art style and i found the story so interesting and deep while still light to read

Dreamover is a charming coming of age romantic story revolving around the trials and tribulations of entering high school and navigating through changing relationships. I enjoyed the small slice of life moments on the beach, the video game banters and the swirl of awkward feelings that come with growing up and finding balance in life. It is a very heartwarming story that will be sure to delight middle grade and young teens.

I enjoyed the LGBTQA representation, however, I personally found the characters to be less developed than I would have liked. The pacing feels slow in the beginning due to a lot of set up before reaching the dream sequences. While the simplified style of the art is charming, the sketchy lines felt rough at times, the skjn tones desaturated and the backgrounds muddled. Nevertheless the sequences and art are clear in the storytelling. The dream scenes are very fun!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think this slice of life (with a hint of magical realism) graphic novel could be mostly enjoyed by middle graders and younger teens.
Sadly I couldn't really get into it: the characters weren't super well defined or likeable and the story never really went anywhere super interesting in my opinion. I also didn't like the art very much at all: I'm afraid I found it quite sloppy, and the colours made it look dull (except in the dream sequences, which were occasionally exceptionally pretty). Can't really recommend this one, sorry

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a sweet read!

I loved the author's visual metaphors to describe the ups and downs of a young love relationship within this group of friends. The graphics are gorgeous - I love how the author draws water and elements of nature.

Overall, this read made my afternoon much more enjoyable!

Thank you IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This just became an instant favorite for me! I loved every minute of this experience so much!! It’s so magical and beautiful and whimsical and amazing! I highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of trippy capricious fantasy dream worlds. I could live inside their dream state forever. I wish Hayao Miyazaki would pick this up and turn it into a ghibli animated film. It’s seriously that good.

Nico and Amber are best friends with crushes on each other. We get to follow their journey to becoming more than friends, how their close friend group suffers from it, and a wild shared dream that changes everything. This was a fun journey, I enjoyed the characters and weird concept but overall wanted something more from the ending.

During a school trip to the beach, a friend group is shaken up when two give into their feelings and become a couple. Amber and Nico lose themselves in each other and completely forget their friends. Slumber parties stop. Hanging out stops. When the friend group speaks up, Amber and Nico escape further into each other and into a dream world where everything is peaceful until Nico wants to return. Amber doesn’t. In her anger, Amber turns their dream world into a nightmare putting her remaining friendship at risk.

The excitement and newness of becoming a couple should not lead to abandoning your friendships. Dreamover shows us the danger of dismissing friends and losing yourself in one person. The full-color art draws you into the story. Each dream world has a unique color pallet. With limited words, the pages capture Amber’s and Nico’s feelings. You can feel why Amber doesn’t want to leave the dream.

VERDICT: A good addition to MG and YA spaces that will help readers navigate and value the balance of relationships. Will resonate with teens of all ages who lose themselves in one person or see their friends do such.

A group of friends has been doing a lot of things with each other, and then two of thought friends have feelings for each other and decide to date. This causes a rift to form in their relationship and these kids face a lot of emotions in their first year of high school along with juggling their friendships and new relationships.

Dreamover by Dani Diaz is a charming and nostalgic YA graphic novel that captures the essence of young love and friendship. Set against the backdrop of summer vacation before high school, this debut work explores the delicate balance between first romance and maintaining friendships.

The story follows Amber and Nico, two best friends who confess their feelings for each other, only to find themselves drifting away from their friend group. Diaz skillfully portrays the excitement and challenges of young love, as well as the obliviousness that often accompanies it.

Artwork and Storytelling

One of the standout features of Dreamover is its beautiful illustrations, particularly during the dream sequences. The artwork enhances the storytelling, bringing the characters' emotions and experiences to life. The nostalgic glimpse of 2000s-era instant messaging adds a delightful touch, evoking memories for older readers while introducing younger ones to a bygone era.

Character Development

While the main characters are endearing, some readers may wish for deeper character development, especially for Nico. However, this slight vagueness might not be as noticeable to the target younger audience.

Themes and Relatability

Dreamover excels in its exploration of themes relevant to young readers:

- The transition from middle school to high school
- Balancing romantic relationships with friendships
- Self-discovery and personal growth

The story's cozy and bittersweet tone makes it a relatable and enjoyable read for both YA audiences and anyone seeking a feel-good story.

Despite some minor plot inconsistencies and a few underdeveloped elements, Dreamover remains a sweet, engaging read that captures the essence of young love and friendship. Its blend of contemporary themes with a touch of magical realism in the shared dream concept makes for an intriguing and unique narrative.

Overall, Dreamover is a promising debut that showcases Dani Diaz's potential as a graphic novelist. It's a quick, pleasant read that will resonate with many young readers and leave them with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

This was such an adorable read! Upon reading the blurb, I could already tell I would love it and this graphic novel really met my expectations.

It's a beautiful ode to childhood imagination and a read that'll bring a lot of nostalgia to those who grew up in the early 2000s.

I always love books, and specifically graphic novels, that capture the messy, awkward and sometimes difficult first attempts at navigating early teenagehood. This book did exactly that and it did so with amazing accuracy and great storytelling. It was really nice to follow the two characters as they learned to balance their new relationship, new school and their friendships.

The art is so beautiful, a bit different from the style I am usually drawn to since it's a more desaturated palette. I think that really helped carry the slight melancholic feeling of the story. It also made the Dreamover parts pop even more as those have a slightly more vibrant atmosphere.

Overall, I really liked the story but only wished it had taken more time to explore the conflict resolution towards the end.

I would highly recommend this graphic novel for teenagers but also to those who are feeling up to a short and heartwarming nostalgic story!