Member Reviews

Okay, I loved this!! Such a cute and wholesome graphic novel with a plus size main character who finds love and goes after her dreams. For anyone who has loved Disneyland and dreamed of working there (of course, for copyright reasons this theme park has a completely different name and different princesses, but basically Disney) We Could Be Magic has a character who does just that.

Tabi has dreamed of playing her favorite princess since she was a little girl and lives for the magic of the parks. So getting into a summer employment program is a dream. Or...it starts out that way. Because the truth is that not everyone wants to be there or cares about making magic for guests, and no-one thinks a plus-size girl could play a princess. But Tabi will do whatever it takes to prove them wrong, even as she becomes a little disillusioned with parts of it.

This was exactly what I would have wanted to see as a teenager who loved going to Disney parks every few years with family, and who really could have used this kind of body-positive representation with an adorable romance. If this sounds like your thing I definitely recommend it! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

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This was a really cute graphic novel. Tabi has dreamed of being a princess at Sommerland since she first went as a young child. She gets into a summer program at the park, but instead of being a Princess, she is tasked with making nachos. Enter somewhat carry roommates, a cute friend, cliquey royalty, and a summer that doesn’t quite go as she planned.

Overall, this was a really cute story and I loved the art. There were some parts that felt a bit rushed, but I still enjoyed it. Also, I’m not sure if it was just because it was a digital ARC, but some of the pages were a bit blurry and there were a few times the text was outside the text box.

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As someone who also resides in a larger body, it was nice to see that representation in this book and how Tabitha navigates her own struggles with her dreams and how they match up with the unfortunate reality of places like Sommerland. I enjoyed the characters, the art, the story, and thought it was a very sweet book.

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This was a super cute YA graphic novel. Good message and well executed artwork. Perfect for a young teen! I love Marissa Meyer and this doesn't disappoint.

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This is the first book I ever read by the author although several of her books are on my TBR. I LOVED this graphic novel. I read it in one sitting. I loved the message of following your dreams, being confident and believing in yourself even when others do not. This was beautifully written AND illustrated.

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This was such a fun read! Sommerland is very clearly a stand in for Disney, and watching Tabitha learn just how unmagical working at the most magical place on earth can be hit me in the very core as a former theme park employee myself. Highly unrealistic, but still super fun ending that made my cold, dark heart tingle. The art was beautiful and the characters were fun, which led to the best cozy reading experience, especially on a rainy night. I finished this with some Disney World fever, that's for sure!

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E-arc provided by Netgalley

This was cute but a very clear disney rip off to the point that it was taking me out of the story a bit. Also this was pretty short so a lit of development happened in a very short amount of time/ wasn't super flushed out

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This graphic novel was adorable. It promotes body positivity, working hard for your dreams, and finding people who help you become a better version of yourself. It is also an age appropriate cute little romance. I would absolutely put it in a classroom library.

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Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book. This was so cute!!!! It was literally a fairytale and is so beautiful!!! The illustrations are amazing and the plot is so cute and unique. I loved the princess costumes and stories and I loved the ending so much!!! It was so unexpected and cute!!! 5 stars!!!!

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"Marissa Meyer does it again! We Could Be Magic is an utterly charming graphic novel brimming with summer magic. This quick, delightful read follows Tabi as she pursues her princess dreams against all odds. Joelle Murray's artwork is stunning and perfectly complements the story’s whimsical tone. I devoured it in one sitting! If you've ever dreamed of being a Disney princess, this book is for you.

A huge thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC!"

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Tabi gets her summer dream job, working at the happiest place, Sommerland theme park. She meets new friends, facest different challenges, and makes magic. Will she get to make her dream come true of being a princess?

There are many magical moments in this graphic novel. The story-line is fun and quick moving, the illustrations are very well done! Marissa Meyer is always a favorite read and this is no exception. A perfect YA graphic novel to add to your collection.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC.

4.5*

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Perfectly encapsulates how ceaseless passion for something can be such a driving and inspirational force in your life. Tabi's a dreamer and her infectious energy automatically has you rooting for her. Thoughtful commentary on many types of representation, as well. The romance subplot had me grinning like a fool. I would love more of this universe, especially given how divine the art style is.

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In this young adult graphic novel, we follow Tabitha. Ever since she was little, she dreamed of working at Sommerland, an amusement park similar to Disney World. High school Tabiltha just got accepted into their summer program, which allows high school students to work at the park. She hopes to audition to play one of the character performers, precisely one of the princesses. But when Tabitha attends the audition, she realizes she does not look like the other princesses. Tabitha is determined to make her dreams come true; after all, this is an amusement park where anything is possible. Right!?
It's such a cute graphic novel! I loved how determined Tabitha was to make her dreams come true. She worked tirelessly on all the dance moves, and l continued her job at the food shack with a smile. There's also a romance aspect to this book, which was adorable to read. I will be reading more books from this author in the future!

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All Tabi has dreamed of is being at Princess at Sommerland. She lands a summer job there and it isn’t quite as she imagined. Such a cute graphic novel!

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Such a fun story and graphic novel. Meyer has captured a little bit of the Disney magic as well as potentially some Disney reality in a graphic novel that tells the story of a girl finding her place in the magic. I loved this book from the start and never wanted it to end. Sure, this isn't 100% accurate when it comes to painting a picture of Disney and, more importantly, what a Disney cast member lives; but I'm sure there are kernels of truth here and there. And ultimately, this isn't a book about Disney or Universal or any theme park that exists; it's a book about a theme park experience.

Tabi starts out the book as someone who is struggling to fit in, but through her determination and perseverance, she earns her place among the magic and helps others along the way. I loved that she started out at a food stand and worked her way up; and I loved that she had someone to support her both in the form of her roommate and also in the friends she made.

There is some romance too which is nice, but definitely not the focus for the story.

Artwork is well drawn. Whimsical and walks the line between a graphic novel and manga effectively.

I would definitely recommend this to a Meyer fan, someone who loves Disney, and someone looking for a fun body positive graphic novel.

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My goodness this one was sooooo cute! My high school self would've eaten this up! I loved the art style and the way that story unfolded. It was a little predictable, but the end had me shocked in the best ways! I feel like Marissa's writing style plus Joelle's art style fit perfectly together! I will definitely be picking up a copy for my younger cousins!

My one sentence summary: While Tabi scores a job at her dream place, Sommerland, it is definitely not her dream job there, however with a little bit of magic and a new crush, Tabi makes it the best summer ever!

I would recommend this graphic novel to anyone who enjoys high school/young adult romances, enjoys Disney inspired books, no spice, but definitely swoon worthy romance, a FMC who is strong and dedicated, with adorable and diverse characters! Thanks so much to NetGalley for this e-Advance Reader Copy - I truly inhaled this one!

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Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I was super excited to get to read this early, as I have loved Meyer’s past works! This was a super cute quick read, perfect for a palette cleanser! I loved that it honestly featured diverse characters without becoming heavy, the sweet and colorful artwork, and the fluffy romance. I definitely would recommend this to any YA romance fans looking something short and sweet.

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We Could Be Magic is, quite simply, delightful! I loved Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles and Renegades trilogy, so I knew I was a fan of her style of storytelling, but I was initially leery of this book because it seemed so much more romance-focused than her usual fare. However, I decided to request it anyway, and I’m so glad I did.

Yes, We Could Be Magic has romantic elements, but the core plot is far more about learning to love who you are and believing in yourself than solely falling into rom-com territory. Meyer crafts a setting as vibrant as any sci-fi world, Joelle Murray’s art bringing to life this hyper-fandom setting with all its flaws, strange personalities, and magic.

I ADORED Tabi as the protagonist here—she is so incredibly authentic and lovely, and I was quite literally cheering her on the whole time while I read. We Could Be Magic is simultaneously a celebration of fandoms like this one and a critique of the way too many argue there’s only one ‘right’ way to be a princess, blending into an unputdownable and beautiful story. If you’re a fan of graphic novels, fairy tales, fandoms, Marissa Meyer, or all of the above, I highly recommend We Could Be Magic!

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This story was wonderful! It had all the magic and wonder of the greatest theme parks mixed with the true magic of never giving up on your dreams. Tabi’s character is every little girl who has big dreams and doesn’t let life take them away from her. May we all be more like Tabi and fight for what we want.

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This book was so wonderful to read! The first half was like stepping back into the DCP and it made me laugh at some points. It really is a cute story about Magic and making your own happily ever after. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys the magic of Disney and a sweet story.

Thank you to the Marissa Meyer and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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