Member Reviews

4 stars//e-ARC//Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC! Thoughts/review are my own.
This was soooo cute. Technically marked as a YA, but I think it could even pass for middle grade. Our main character, Tabi, is enamored with the royal characters of Sommerland, a Disney-esque park, from a young age, and dreams of being cast as one of the princesses. We follow her throughout her summer working at the park, bound and determined to achieve her dream despite the fact that she's... well... not your usual princess material.
The body positivity in this book thrilled me to no end, but what I loved most of all was Tabi's determination to achieve her dream despite every challenge and setback she faced. She wasn't afraid to work hard or look a little silly to get what she wanted, and stayed true to herself the entire time. This is such a valuable message for younger readers! I plan to purchase a copy for my 10-year-old step-sister when the book is released because she reminds me a lot of Tabi and hopefully will see some of herself in the story and feel inspired by its message. A cute, fun read that definitely left me smiling!

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A super cute graphic novel about a girl who can't wait to be one of the princesses at her childhood favorite amusement park. Light romance and Disney vibe.

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What and adorable, important, and all-around fun book! I love the vibrant illustrations and the enthusiasm exuding from the protagonist. The love interest is charming, message is affirming, and the overall themes of hope and working to make dreams come true is magical and infectious.

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We Could Be Magic was fabulous! I loved how Tabitha was so dedicated to her craft that she let nothing stop her. With hints of the most iconic happiest place on earth woven throughout, Meyer kept me guessing what symbols would be next. The sweet romance of this graphic novel was a welcome relief to other young adult books I have read lately. Readers will enjoy this one over and over again.

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I absolutely loved this! I had so much fun with the story, the art style, and the message. I think my best description to this is as a love letter to the Disney fans and (my understanding of) the Disney College Program! I have absolutely no complaints!

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I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Since childhood, Tabitha Laurie has always loved the magic of Sommerland Theme Park and the characters portrayed as princesses and princes. When she finally receives a job offer at the theme park, Tabitha is ecstatic, but she ends up working at a nacho joint instead of her dream job as a princess. Through the ups and downs and secrets surrounding Sommerland, Tabitha slowly falls in love with another employee and finally begins to enjoy her role at the enchanted theme park. But, during the last parade of the season, Tabitha is given a role that could get her fired or change her dreams forever.
Absolutely delightful! This summer romance-filled graphic novel was so much fun to read. Bright colors of the outfits of the royalty type characters, the magic of Sommerland coming alive, and the dreams we all chase towards the horizon. Tabitha is an inspirational girl, doing what she can to achieve her goals and dreams, despite the heat and drama behind closed doors. I was so happy about that ending and everything that Tabitha had to have for herself. A comic book made for falling in love under the magic and falling stars of Sommerland Theme Park.

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Strong Disney vibes in this story of a plus-sized girl chasing her dream of making magic happen. Giving this a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Marissa Meyer does not hold back in this lighthearted but poignant story about what it is like working in the entertainment industry where creating "magic" is the ultimate goal above all else (including the dreams or self-care of the employees). The story is very cute and the romance is believable and literally made me go "awwww." The lessons of self-acceptance and not giving up are great even if I don't think they would happen in real life.

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I’m not an avid Disney fan, but this book gave off immense Disney vibes and was so sweet. Tabi is a caring and determined individual who will do whatever she has to do to reach her dream, but also do good for children visiting Sommerland. The art in this book was beautiful and I loved the color palette used throughout the graphic novel.

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This book is SO cute and heartwarming! As a fat girl who wanted to be a part of theater, but was told I'd never have "the look" this one hit close to home. I love how confident Tabi is, and how she is willing to work hard for her dream. The romance unfolds pretty naturally and is pretty darn cute. I got a good chuckle our of all the silly little nods to and pokes at Disney.

The artwork is lovely, all soft pastels and whimsy.

I can't wait to get this book into the hands of my readers!

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Marissa Meyer has long been my favorite author, and as such, this was always going to be a book I'd be eager to get my hands on—no questions asked. Her ability to craft compelling characters, engaging plots, and immersive worlds never fails to pull me in and <i>We Could Be Magic</i> is no exception. This graphic novel, beautifully illustrated by Joelle Murray, is brimming with charm, humor, and just the right touch of whimsy to make for an utterly captivating read from start to finish.

One of the strongest aspects of this story is how effortlessly Meyer crafts her characters. Each one feels vibrant and real with personalities that leap off the page, enhanced even further by Murray’s expressive and dynamic artwork. Their relationships, whether filled with banter, tension, or heartfelt moments create an emotional core that makes the novel impossible to put down. The magic, brought about by the concept of building fantasy worlds and dreams, feels fresh and fun, seamlessly woven into the narrative in a way that enhances the characters' personal journeys.

One of the most intriguing elements of <i>We Could Be Magic</i> is its subtle yet pointed critique of the entertainment industry, particularly Disney’s portrayal of princesses and the subsequent manner in which Disney Parks create "magic" for customers. As the story follows the process of or lovely main character becoming a character performer at an amusement park, it highlights the need for more diverse body representation—a theme that feels especially relevant and important these days. It’s a thoughtful commentary that adds depth to an already engaging narrative.

Joelle Murray’s artwork is another highlight, bringing a vibrant energy to the pages with a style that seems to take inspiration from <i>Sailor Moon</i> and other classic magical girl aesthetics; knowing Marissa Meyer as well as I have come to over the years, it is no surprise at all to me that I felt this leaping from the pages. The character designs and transformations feel dynamic and expressive, blending nostalgia with a fresh and modern approach.

Meyer’s signature storytelling shines here, balancing humor with poignant moments of growth and self-acceptance. It’s an empowering and joyful read, with a cast of characters that are easy to love and a story that encourages readers to embrace their own magic.

For fans of Marissa Meyer, Joelle Murray, magical girl stories, or anyone looking for a feel-good, enchanting read, <i>We Could Be Magic</i> is an absolute must. It’s the kind of book that leaves you with a smile long after you’ve turned the final page.

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Marissa Meyer is the queen of retellings and this one is no different. Following Laurie as she lives her dream of working at Somerland, which is clearly a fictionalized version of Disney, is so much fun. Despite people telling her she'll never make her dream.come true, she never gives up.
The art by Joelle Murray was also fantastic, as if this was its own Disney film

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This was such a beautiful and heartwarming story! I loved it and cannot wait to see more like it. Amazing story combined with beautiful artwork really made this one a hit!

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A beautifully magical book about following your dreams and learning to love yourself. I absolutely loved this YA graphic novel. It follows Tab who is spending the summer working at the theme park that she absolutely adored as a kid. Her dream is to play the role of a princess in the park, but quickly learns that she may not be cut out for it. Tabitha doesn't give up on her dream, though. She watches videos with tutorials for the dances she'd need to know, she works a less than awesome job within the theme park, and she becomes friends with a bot who works there. Readers will be dying to see if her dreams come true, and also to see if romance blooms with her new coworker. A magical book for readers of all kinds!

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This graphic novel by Marissa Meyer is so cute and fun. I loved reading about Tabi's adventure at this world's version of Disney. It was so realistic to the life of someone whose body is bigger than what mainstream culture deems normal. I loved the cute love story between the main characters. I think this will be enjoyed by so many teens this year.

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We Could Be Magic is a delightful coming of age story about finding your self worth that's not based on weight or other people's expectations of you. In.a world full of pretty, skinny princesses, Tabitha Laurie has to learn how to maintain her pride in herself despite everyone around her saying she needs to lose weight or this or that in order of making her dreams come true. Thanks to her own self esteem and a little help from her friends, she has a chance of figuring out how to navigate the standards Summerland has set for employees so she can keep her dream job. After all, this is the place where magic happens, right? This was a fun, poignant novel that I devoured. It was moving, relatable, and sweet.

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This was a really sweet read! It was nice to see a main character who was upbeat and positive and who believed in herself and her dreams. I think this will be an uplifting and encouraging read for a lot of young readers.

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This was so adorable! This was the first Marissa Meyer book I read and I loved it! I loved Tabi and James, their relationship was so sweet! I loved the art, it drew me in and kept me so captured. It was whimsical without being silly. I'm so happy that the relationship between Kyra and Tabi developed into something sweet!

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This was one of the absolute cutest graphic novel I’ve ever read!! Illustrated in a cartoonish, yet whimsical way, was a perfect for this book to embody this allegory for working at Disneyland. Not only that, but Tabi is the BIGGEST fan of Summerland and had such passion and joy, even when she isn’t exactly getting what she wants. She’s got a touch of mischief and I loved her! This was a very cute, fast-paced story about chasing your dreams, not being ashamed to be yourself, and the joy of joy.

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Marissa Meyer does it again! I love Marissa Meyer and this graphic novel was so cute. As someone who loves Disney and did the DCP, this graphic novel was definitely relatable. I really liked the main character and like the messages around her character. She had big dreams and worked hard for those dreams, but also had to readjust the idealistic view she had of her life in Summerland. It was nice to see a character work through the reality of what her dreams look like. And not to mention, the romance was so sweet! Obviously with it being a graphic novel, the story is shorter and it can be difficult to develop a story, especially a relationship, in a graphic novel format. I felt like Marissa Meyer did a fantastic job with that. Even though it was short, I still felt like the relationship was believable and made sense. And she was able to pace it in a way that felt like the natural progression of a relationship.
Overall, the graphic novel was really cute and I would highly recommend it, especially for people who are fans of Marissa Meyer or Disney.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this Arc!

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I think this was super cute and I liked the representation! I know it's a graphic novel but the pacing felt soooo fast.

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